- Title: BRITISH-INDIA/ARMY VISIT India and Britain hold joint military exercise
- Date: 17th June 2015
- Summary: WESTDOWN CAMP, SALISBURY PLAINS, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 17, 2015) (REUTERS) INDIAN SOLDIERS APPROACHING DOORWAY DURING EXERCISE SOLDIERS ENTERING BUILDING SOLDIERS CHECKING BUILDING IS CLEAR / EXITING BUILDING SOLDIERS JUMPING OVER WALL SOLDIER LOOKING AROUND WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMANDING OFFICER 1st BATTALION, THE RIFLES, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLIE GRIST, SAYING: "This
- Embargoed: 2nd July 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
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- Story Text: An Indian Army infantry company took part in a training exercise on Salisbury Plains in the UK on Wednesday (June 17).
One-hundred-and-twenty soldiers from One Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army are spending three weeks in Britain as part of a joint exchange exercise codenamed Ajeya Warrior.
The exercise is held every other year and aims to build positive military relations between the two countries, the British Army said.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Grist, commanding officer of the British soldiers taking part in the exercise - the 1st Battalion, The Rifles - said the joint exercise offered the British Army the chance to train with a key ally.
"This is a brilliant opportunity for us. We don't get enough opportunities to train with multinational partners. Having the Indians here is a huge honour, they're really important to us and training with them makes us better in terms of making sure we know how to inter-operate with other countries. It's amazing how difficult that can be and having the opportunity to train, that's really useful."
The Indian soldiers spent the first week of the exercise being familiarised with the British Army's weapons and tactics.
On Wednesday they undertook an exercise in which they cleared a village of counter insurgents - played by British soldiers.
The exercise made use of laser technology to simulate live fire with troops fitted with sensors that indicate a "hit".
"Essentially they're on a British Army training area using a simulation system which in effect simulates weapons being fired. It's a little bit like Laser Quest only it's far more sophisticated and what it does is helps soldiers train so that they really understand what it's like to be fired upon without actually that happening," said Grist.
The Indian soldiers said the training environment was highly realistic and the opportunity to work with the British Army was valuable.
"We have good experiences about the insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, however the 1st Rifles has good exposure against Afghans in Afghanistan after 9-11 so both of us are working together so that we can learn from them and vice-versa," said Captain Abhijeet Mahaja.
"It's been very useful, we have been practicing for this, practiced in the last week and finally with the enemy in it was very useful. We drew some important lessons, drew some good lessons and I think it will be useful for further operations," added Major Abhishek Khare.
The joint exercise will enhance the ability of the two armies to undertake international counterinsurgency operations, the British Army said.
On Sunday (June 14) the Indian soldiers spent the day in London visiting some of the British capital's cultural highlights. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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