Srinagar, Sept 18: As part of the training co-operation between the British and the Indian armed forces, a company of UK Marines is being trained jointly with a company of Indian Army paratroopers in high altitude warfare in the Ladakh Himalayas.

The exercise that began on Monday, and codenamed Himalayan Warrior, "has been planned to focus on training in super high altitude areas."

The joint training is being conducted over a period of five-weeks around Leh.

Initially, the two companies would go through the acclimatisation process to enable them get used to the rarefied atmosphere at these altitudes. A four-week rigorous training program would follow.

The primary objective of the joint training is to understand each other's strengths, while operating in terrain with rugged ridges reaching the height of over 20,000 feet, interspersed with hazardous glaciers.

Understanding the capabilities of weapons and equipment of each other's armies forms an essential part of this interaction.

The instructors trained in the High Altitude Warfare School, Sonamarg in specialised aspects such as rock-craft, snow and glacier operations would conduct the joint training.

The Indian soldiers would share their experiences of operating in some of the world's most difficult areas, including the world's highest altitude battlefield - the Siachen glacier - with the British soldiers.

Both the companies are expected to benefit immensely from the expertise acquired by the other in the conduct of operations in such a terrain.

The Indian airborne forces participating in the exercise are especially trained high altitude warfare troops capable of operating independently in varied snow-bound mountainous regions. (With Inputs from ANI)