India, UAE Kick Off Desert Cyclone II to Sharpen Urban Warfare Skills
India, UAE Kick Off Desert Cyclone II to Sharpen Urban Warfare Skills
India and UAE launch Desert Cyclone II in Abu Dhabi, a joint exercise aimed at boosting interoperability and urban-operation readiness for peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability missions.
An Indian Army contingent of 45 personnel departed for the United Arab Emirates to participate in the second edition of Exercise Desert Cyclone II, to be conducted in Abu Dhabi from December 18 to 30, 2025. The UAE will field a similarly sized contingent drawn from the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability and deepen defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces, with a focus on sub-conventional operations in an urban environment under a United Nations mandate for peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability operations.
Over nearly two weeks, troops from both sides will jointly train across a wide spectrum of tactical drills, including fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations, and detailed mission planning. The programme will also incorporate the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS techniques to conduct operations in urban settings.
The Desert Cyclone II exercise builds on a series of high-level exchanges and aims to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and military diplomacy between India and the UAE, reaffirming their shared commitment to regional peace, security and stability.
