NEW DELHI, December 31: The second edition of the India-UAE Joint Military Exercise, DESERT CYCLONE–II, successfully culminated today with a grand closing ceremony at Al-Hamra Training City in the UAE. Spanning from December 18 to 30, the intensive training program brought together a contingent of 45 personnel from the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment and the UAE’s 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. The exercise was specifically designed to bolster the strategic defence partnership between the two nations, focusing on urban combat and sub-conventional operations conducted under a United Nations mandate.
By sharing advanced tactical knowledge, both armies have reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability.The two-week exercise featured a rigorous curriculum of urban warfare drills, including room intervention, building clearance, and heliborne air assaults. Troops engaged in detailed mission planning and practiced critical life-saving techniques such as IED awareness, casualty evacuation, and field first aid.
A key highlight was the standardization of tactics, where both contingents exchanged and rehearsed specific room-clearing procedures to ensure seamless operational synergy. The training reached its peak with integrated offensive and defensive maneuvers in built-up areas, demonstrating high-level coordinated action.
This successful completion of DESERT CYCLONE–II not only strengthens the professional bonds between the Indian and UAE Land Forces but also prepares them for effective collaboration in future multinational peacekeeping missions.
