Rampur Hounds join Indo-American troops for specialized exercises in Yudh Abhyas
Indian Army soldiers with a trained military dog Rampur Hound during a tactical exercise at Yudh Abhyas 2026. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Military dogs of the Indian Army, including the indigenous Rampur hounds, demonstrate their specialized operational skills along with US Army personnel during the ongoing India-US bilateral exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026.
According to the Indian Army, four army canines — Rampur Hounds Victor and Rowdy, Belgian Malinois Zac and Labrador Retriever Rice — are participating in the exercise, demonstrating their skills in room intervention and rappelling training as part of professional exchanges with the US Army.
Indian and US military personnel interact during exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, with military dogs (a Belgian Malinois and a Rampur Greyhound) taking center stage during the joint tactical exercise. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The demonstrations provided U.S. Army personnel the opportunity to observe the training, agility and employment of canines alongside soldiers in challenging tactical situations.
Victor and Rowdy belong to the Rampur Hound breed, a native Indian breed that is increasingly being used for specialized military roles. The breed’s participation in the exercise highlights the military’s efforts to employ indigenous dog breeds for operational tasks.
The canines also have operational experience from deployments along India’s northern and eastern borders. The Rampur Hounds had earlier participated in an international multilateral exercise at Umroi in Meghalaya and were subsequently deployed along the Manipur border where they successfully detected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Their siblings were also deployed in the Jalandhar and Amritsar sectors during Operation Sindoor, proving the utility of the dog line in a variety of operational environments.
Army Canines’ participation in Yudh Abhyas 2026 underscores the growing role of trained military dogs in specialized operations and highlights the close coordination between animals and their handlers during tactical missions.
Published – 20 Sep 2026 19:49 IST