Image Credit: X account @SpokespersonMoD
India-UK Armies Deepen Ties as Ajeya Warrior‑25 Ends in Rajasthan
The eighth edition of the joint military exercise Indian Army and British Army concluded on Sunday at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan, after two weeks of intensive training between the two armies. The exercise, held from 17 to 30 November 2025, saw 240 soldiers — equally drawn from both forces — participate under a United Nations mandate.
Counter-Terror Drills, Urban Warfare & Tactical Training
During the exercise, troops from the Indian Army’s Sikh Regiment and the British Army’s Royal Gurkha Rifles conducted a wide array of drills. These included urban and semi-urban combat simulations, room intervention, cordon-and-search operations, heliborne insertions and extractions using helicopters, live firing, sniper drills, rocket-launcher and machine-gun exercises. Sessions on neutralising improvised explosive devices (IEDs), drone surveillance operations, and joint mission planning under a UN peace-enforcement framework sharpened their readiness for complex engagements.
Interoperability and Strategic Coordination Strengthened
The validation phase of the exercise demonstrated high levels of coordination, interoperability, and shared tactical doctrine — a key objective of Ajeya Warrior. Military analysts noted that this year’s edition introduced enhanced air–land integration and reflected growing strategic alignment between India and the UK in defence and peacekeeping readiness.
Reinforcing Global Security Cooperation
Officials said Ajeya Warrior-25 reaffirms the two countries’ commitment to regional stability and global peace. The exercise not only strengthens bilateral military cooperation but also enhances their ability to operate alongside other nations under UN peace-keeping mandates.
