The fifth edition of the India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise, IMBAX 2026, commenced on September 15 at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. The 14-day military exercise will continue until September 28, 2026.
The bilateral exercise brings together personnel from the Indian Army and the Myanmar Army for joint training aimed at improving interoperability and coordination between the two forces.
According to the Indian Army, the primary objective of Exercise IMBAX 2026 is to enhance the ability of both armies to operate together during missions conducted under a United Nations mandate. The participating troops will train together and exchange operational experiences and best practices developed by their respective forces.
The exercise is also expected to strengthen mutual understanding, camaraderie and military-to-military cooperation between India and Myanmar.
During the exercise, the Myanmar contingent will get an opportunity to witness various indigenous weapons and military equipment currently being used by the Indian Army. The showcase is aligned with the Indian Army’s push towards greater use of domestically developed defence systems under the vision of “JAI se VIJAY.”

The Joint Training Node at Umroi will host a series of training activities during the two-week exercise, allowing soldiers from both countries to improve coordination and learn from each other’s operational experience.

Exercise IMBAX has emerged as an important platform for bilateral military engagement between India and Myanmar. Such exercises enable the two neighbouring countries to improve professional interaction between their armed forces while developing common understanding for operations requiring multinational cooperation.

The fifth edition of IMBAX also underlines the continuing defence engagement between India and Myanmar and reaffirms the commitment of both countries towards promoting peace, stability and security in the region.
