‘Ajeya Warrior,’ the joint Indo-UK military excercise aimed at enhancing the counter-terrorism skills of both nations, entered the third of its four-week programme at Belgaum on Friday.
The Indian Army said that the exercise will simulate a scenario where both nations work together on a simulated joint operation involved in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
“This is one of the major ongoing bilateral defence co-operation endeavours between the two countries,” explained a spokesman from the Indian Army. “It is fifth in the series which initially started as a biennial feature in 2007. It has since been decided to hold exercises in India and the United Kingdom alternatively.”
Troops
The trainees include a hundred men from The Royal Welsh regiment of the British Army and a similar number of troops from a battalion of the Indian Army’s Kumaon Regiment.
The first week of excercises comprised familiarisation with the unit structure, weapons and equipment of both armies.The second week involved tactical drills being demonstrated and practised.
“Both countries have troops deployed in active counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations, and thus by sharing each other’s operational experiences in such a diverse environment is of immense value,” said an army spokesperson.
He added that the curriculum has been planned in such a way so to allow participants to become progressively more familiar each other’s organisational structure, weapons, equipment, and tactical drills.
After the training is complete, both forces will particpate in joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both armies are coherently employed.