Defence News
Indo-UK joint army to kick off today
The United Kingdom (UK) Army contingent was briefed about scheduled training, administrative infrastructure, weather conditions and medical aspects by Indian Army officers for Indo-UK joint training exercise Ajeya Warrior 2017 to be held from December 1-14 at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner.
Both Indian and UK contingent officers carried out discussion on finer aspects of scheduled training and sequencing of various activities to be undertaken in the exercise were discussed in detail.
UK Army contingent landed at Jaipur on November 29 to take part in Ajeya Warrior. The ground level preparations of the exercise has been completed.
The contingent after immigration and check in procedures proceeded to the exercise location at Mahajan Field Firing Range for understanding scheduled training, administrative infrastructure, weather conditions and medical aspects of the locations where the Exercise commencing today.
At Jaipur airport they were warmly received by Indian army officials. Defence spokesman Lt. Col Manish Ojha said, all preparations for the exercise has been completed and contingent of UK Army personnel had briefed about scheduled training, administrative infrastructure, weather conditions and medical aspects for exercise Ajeya Warrior.
Participating troops for the exercise from Indian Army are from 20th Battalion, The Rajputana Rifles, while the troops of 1st Battalion – The Vikings are participating from the Royal British Army.
The Vikings are the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, a Light Role Infantry Battalion that recruits from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
Based in Woolwhich, London, the unit uses the most up to date weapon systems and the most advanced communication available.
The Battalion has seen service in Afghanistan in 2002, Iraq in 2005 and again in Afghanistan in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2015.
The aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral army to army relations and enhance interoperability while exchanging skills and experience is between the royal British army and Indian Army.
He said both sides have prepared themselves well for the aforesaid training activity with a view to extract a maximum from it in terms of best practices and joint action.
The fourteen day exercise with Royal British army is scheduled to be conducted in multiple modes nodules in order to achieve complete integration between the two contingents at every stage.
The exercise will provide field commanders and troops and opportunity to interact with each other in matters professional, social and cultural.
