New Delhi, May 10 (FN Bureau) The UK and India will conclude the seventh edition of the biennial exercise, Ajeya Warrior on May 11, that has seen contingents from the British and Indian Armies undertaking demanding training on the Salisbury Plain Training Area in the UK for the past two weeks. This year, Exercise Ajeya Warrior involved troops from the UK’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and India’s 6th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment.
Increasing the scope, complexity and dynamism considerably from previous iterations of the exercise, a company from the Bihar Regiment was integrated into the 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles battlegroup to conduct high tempo operations in a pioneering simulated training environment, a statement from the UK High Commission said. Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The UK and India are natural partners in defence and have increasing levels of interoperability, as shown by this highly complex and hands-on interaction between our militaries. The UK has made the Indo Pacific ‘tilt’ a permanent pillar of our international policy. The region is critical to our economy, our security, and to our interest in an open and stable international order.” Brigadier Nick Sawyer, Defence Advisor, British High Commission, said: “Throughout the exercise, both the armies have had an opportunity to showcase their capabilities and emerging military technologies, as part of their respective drives toward modernisation. There is no doubt we will have learned from each other, yet again.
“Ajeya Warrior leaves us with an increased understanding about each other’s military capabilities and tactics, which is vital for a stronger UK-India strategic partnership.” To respond to a more contested and volatile world, the UK refreshed its Integrated Review in March 2023, significantly increasing its defence funding to tackle global challenges. Exercise Ajeya Warrior follows a series of bilateral visits and military engagements between the UK and India since the beginning of 2023, including the visit of UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, in April, the statement said.