India-UK logistic exchange agreement fosters historic visit of UK Royal Navy vessels to Chennai
The vessels underwent essential maintenance at the Larsen & Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai. (Image/British High Commission)
The UK’s maritime prowess took centre stage as the Littoral Response Group (LRG) made its inaugural stop in Chennai on March 26, 2024, marking the commencement of its deployment to the Indian Pacific region.
Comprising the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus and RFA Lyme Bay, the LRG engaged in maritime exercises with the Indian Navy upon entering the Arabian Sea. The vessels underwent essential maintenance at the Larsen & Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai. Notably, this marks the first instance of a Royal Navy vessel undergoing maintenance at an Indian shipyard, an outcome of the logistics-sharing agreement inked between the UK and India in 2022.
Brigadier Nick Sawyer, Defence Advisor at the British High Commission, underscored the significance of the LRG’s visit, affirming the UK’s commitment and capability in the Indo-Pacific region.
On social media platform X, Brig Sawyer said: “The logistics-sharing agreement allows for the provision of logistic 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.” Adding: “This agreement has been a real game changer. It has led to increased engagements between our armed forces. The vital logistics partnership supports longer deployments of our capabilities in the region and is clear evidence of the UK Indo-Pacific tilt in action, in sync with India.”
What is LRG?
According to Brig Sawyer, this is a multi-functional amphibious task force, equipped to undertake a wide spectrum of activity in the littoral environment. This taskforce consists of the ships RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay, and there are forces on board centred on a Royal Marines strike force.
In the past 12 months there have been a series of visits by the Royal Navy. And this is the first time when the LRG(S) vessels docked at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai, he noted.
The visit follows the mutual commitment to bolster ties, as demonstrated during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the UK in January. In line with this, the UK launched Defence Partnership-India, aimed at fostering deeper defence collaboration. Integral to this partnership is the dispatch of the UK’s Littoral Response Group (South) to India for joint exercises and leveraging the Indian dockyard at Chennai for essential maintenance.
Looking ahead, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 2025 is slated to visit the Indo-Pacific, further reinforcing the intent to operate and train alongside the Indian Armed Forces.
The logistics-sharing agreement stands as a testament to the growing cooperation, facilitating logistic support, supplies, and services between the two nations’ armed forces. Future endeavours include more complex military exercises, culminating in a milestone joint exercise before 2030, underscoring shared objectives of safeguarding critical trade routes and upholding the rules-based international order.
As the UK and India deepen their defence collaboration, these initiatives signal a concerted effort to bolster regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.