Philip Green hails Austrahind exercise as key to bilateral ties
New Delhi, October 24: Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green OAM, has termed the Austrahind military exercise significant for relations between India and Australia. He travelled to the exercise site on Saturday and offered his perspective after meeting the soldiers taking part.
Sharing photographs on X, Green said he had met 120 personnel from the 13th Brigade Regiment, who are conducting the exercise in Kerala. He noted that as the strategic partnership between the two countries grows, the relationship between their armed forces has become even more important.
He also underlined the importance of military preparation, stating, “Train to fight, train to win.”
Austrahind is a joint military exercise between India and Australia designed to strengthen cooperation, mutual coordination and the ability of both armies to conduct joint operations.
Defence ties between India and Australia have deepened over the last several years. The two nations are collaborating through routine military drills, defence dialogues and cooperation on regional security challenges. As the Indo-Pacific security environment shifts, the training and coordination of the two armies have gained particular attention.
The fifth edition of Austrahind, the bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and the Australian Army, started on October 19, 2026, at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. As per reports, about 240 military personnel are participating, with roughly 120 soldiers from each country. The exercise is slated to end on November 1, 2026.
The central goal is to build the capability to conduct joint operations in coastal and island areas. Troops from both sides are practising joint planning, tactical activities and operations in combat-like scenarios. The programme includes air and maritime elements so that personnel can work together more effectively in diverse conditions. The Indian team includes soldiers of the Garhwal Rifles as well as personnel from other army branches and services.
From the Australian side, soldiers of the 13th Brigade are taking part. The exercise is being held at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram. According to the Ministry of Defence, its subject is conducting sub-conventional military operations in island and coastal environments. Through this exercise, the two armies will share their strategies, techniques and operational procedures and develop the capacity to operate jointly by understanding each other's working practices.
This year's edition, Austrahind-2026, is distinguished by the participation of a New Zealand observer team for the first time, which adds a fresh dimension to the drill.
The previous, fourth edition of this joint military exercise was conducted from October 13 to 26, 2025, at Irwin Barracks in Perth, Australia.