Over 30,000 personnel participate in Exercise Trishul, India’s biggest joint military drill
In a statement issued by the Naval spokesperson here on Monday, it was stated that the joint exercise was conducted between November 3 and 7.
Giving a boost to India-UK defence ties, the UK-led Carrier Strike Group (CSG25) successfully conducted joint military exercises with the Indian Armed Forces during its visit to India, as part of its eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment under Operation Highmast.
The CSG visit and joint exercises further strengthen a growing military partnership with India, following a new £350 million deal, which is set to deliver UK-manufactured Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) to the Indian Army, showcasing defence as an engine for growth, a statement from the British High Commission stated.
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The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the UK and India, currently under negotiation between the two governments, following the Prime Minister’s visit to Mumbai last week.
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During the visit, aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and accompanying vessels joined with the Indian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. This joint activity, Exercise Konkan, was conducted in the western Indian Ocean, and enhanced the warfighting capabilities of both the nations, through developing deeper understanding between the two militaries.
HMS Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier Strike Group conducted combined air exercises with the Indian Air Force, further demonstrating the growing strategic alignment between both nations in the region, and helping keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
Operation Highmast reflects the UK’s global defence ambitions, underpinned by the Government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027, delivering on the Plan for Change and making defence an engine for growth, the statement read.
The release further quoted the UK Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker saying, “It has been incredible to see the strength and reach of the UK Armed Forces as the Carrier Strike Group continued its deployment in South Asia this week.
“Alongside our leadership on global security, we have showcased leading-edge defence innovation which strengthens our trading relationship with India and secures British jobs.
“This strategic partnership helps keep us secure at home and strong abroad, while the trade links promise a valuable boost to the UK economy – demonstrating once again that defence is an engine for growth.”
CSG25 will depart the Indo-Pacific region, bound for the Mediterranean Sea for the final phase of the deployment prior to returning to UK waters by the end of the year.
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