The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus and RFA Lyme Bay of the United Kingdom’s Littoral Response Group (LRG) have been in the Arabian Sea since last Tuesday for a maritime exercise with the Indian Navy. The maritime exercise was its first engagement in the Indian Ocean region. Post exercise, the UK Royal vessels sailed to Chennai and underwent essential maintenance at the Larsen and Toubro shipyard at Kattupalli. This is the first time when a royal naval vessel is undergoing maintenance at an Indian shipyard.
After the LRG ships complete their maintenance they will head to other destinations in the Indo-Pacific region to conduct military engagements with other friendly nations.
The decision to send the UK’s Littoral Response Group and a Carrier Strike Group for a maritime exercise took place after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the UK earlier in January 2024. The official visit was certainly notable with an Indian defence minister visiting the UK after 22 years.
The logistics-sharing agreement between the UK and India allows for the provision of logistics support, supplies and services between the UK and Indian Armed Forces, for joint training, joint exercises, authorised port visits and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The UK has also announced plans for its Carrier Strike Group to visit the Indo-Pacific in 2025. One of its objectives being to operate and train with the Indian Armed Forces.
Brigadier Nick Sawyer, Defence Advisor, British High Commission, said: “The visit of the Littoral Response Group attests to the UK’s capability and commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
The sight of Royal Navy ships undergoing essential maintenance at an Indian shipyard is yet another example of the India-UK Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement in practice.” according to a press release by the UK government.
He further added, It also signals the continued growing importance of the strategic defence partnership between the UK and India as we build towards achieving the ambition set out in the India-UK 2030 Roadmap.
Team Bharatshakti
