The Indian Army used the multinational military drill Exercise PRAGATI 2026 to showcase not just its operational capabilities and homegrown tech, but also the growing role of indigenous military working dog breeds.
'PRAGATI 2026' with the participation of 12 friendly nations—Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam—is currently underway at Meghalaya. The objectives of the exercise include enabling seamless coordination among participating nations in joint operations, identifying common areas of cooperation, sharing expertise and establishing an institutionalised mechanism for exchange of best practices evolved through individual experiences.
A major highlight of the exercise was the participation of Victor, a Rampur Hound tracker dog, highlighting India’s efforts to increasingly integrate native breeds into military roles traditionally dominated by imported dogs. Known for their climatic adaptability, endurance, resilience and disease resistance, indigenous breeds such as the Rampur Hound are being seen as highly suited for Indian operational conditions across deserts, mountains and other extreme terrains, according to news agency ANI.
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The K9 teams demonstrated a range of battlefield tasks, including explosive detection, tracking hostile movement and intervention operations.
The display featured Alan, a Belgian Malinois assault dog, Victor, the Rampur Hound tracker, and Deo, a Labrador trained for explosive detection, each showcasing specialised operational skills.
Officials highlighted that military dogs continue to remain a critical asset in modern warfare, bringing speed, instinct, loyalty and adaptability to high-risk missions.
The exercise also featured robotic dogs, offering a glimpse into how traditional K9 capabilities and emerging military technologies could operate together in future battlefields.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat was quoted as saying by news agency IANS: “Together, the robotic platforms and K9 warriors presented a compelling picture of tradition and technology working in tandem to enhance operational effectiveness. At Exercise PRAGATI 2026, the K9 warriors stood out as silent force multipliers, embodying courage, loyalty and readiness."