India & UK Jointly Introduced Ajeya Warrior 2023

India and the United Kingdom have begun the 7th edition of the ‘Ajeya Warrior’ bilateral training exercise for 2023. The exercise will be held from April 27 to May 11, 2023, at Salisbury Plains, UK.

Ajeya Warrior Exercise

• The Ajeya Warrior Exercise is a joint military training program between India and the United Kingdom, which focuses on counter-terrorism operations in urban and semi-urban settings. 

• It involves company-level joint training to enhance coordination between the armed forces of the two countries. 

• The exercise has been conducted six times before, with the most recent edition taking place in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in 2021. 

• The first such exercise was conducted in 2013. 

• The joint military training between India and the United Kingdom includes a 48-hour exercise that tests the proficiency of both forces in executing joint combat operations in a semi-urban environment.

• The training helps to improve diplomatic relations and strengthen the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Aim of the Exercise

• The Ajeya Warrior Exercise is an important initiative to enhance cooperation and exchange knowledge with friendly foreign nations.

• Its primary objective is to provide training to soldiers from both countries in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

• By doing so, it helps strengthen the bonds between India and the United Kingdom.

Other Bilateral Exercises with UK

• The Konkan Exercise is an annual joint naval exercise between the Indian and UK navies, which started in 2004.
  • The most recent Konkan Exercise took place on 20-22 March, 2023 in the Arabian Sea.
  • The Indian side was represented by INS Trishul.

• The Indradhanush Exercise is a joint military exercise between the air forces of India and the UK.
  • The fifth edition of this exercise was held on February 24, 2020, at Air Force Station, Hindan in Uttar Pradesh.
  • The theme for Indradhanush-2020 was Base Defence and Force Protection.

India – UK Defence Cooperation

• In 2022, India and the UK initiated the Joint Working Group to enhance defence industrial cooperation, and collaborate in co-development and co-production of military platforms.
  • This effort aims to reinforce the security and defence partnership between both countries through industrial cooperation.
  • The working group’s first meeting marked the beginning of this collaboration.

• In an effort to strengthen the defence relationship between India and the UK, the UK government has issued its first Open General Export License in the Indo-Pacific regionto India.
  • This licence will assist in reducing delivery times for defence procurement.

• The British High Commissioner to India has emphasised the significance of a stronger UK-India defence relationship, stating that it is a crucial aspect of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the governments of both countries.

• The UK is known as a global leader in critical defence technologies, particularly in the development of jet engines and electric propulsion technology.
  • The UK has expressed its willingness to share this expertise with India, with support from respective industries.
  • In 2022, the UK offered advanced core technologies to India that are capable of creating an indigenous, ITAR-free (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) jet engine.
  • These technologies will be manufactured, owned, and exported by India.

• India and the UK have established an Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership, which aims to develop electric propulsion technology.
  • With the Joint Working Group (JWG) in place, this will further strengthen the partnership between the navies of both countries for the development of electric propulsion capability in India. 

• In addition, both nations have committed to partnering on India’s indigenous combat air programs, namely the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-MkII and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Facts About UK

• The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• The capital of the UK is London, which is also the largest city in the country.

• The official language of the UK is English.

• The UK has a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as the current monarch.

• The UK has a parliamentary system of government, with the House of Commons and the House of Lords as the two houses of the Parliament.

• Prime Minister – Rishi Sunak (Conservative Party)

• The currency used in the UK is the pound sterling.