As part of the final phase of their maneuvers in the Malvinas Islands, the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) reported that, between March 17 and 21, the Roulement Infantry Company (RIC) will conduct Exercise Cape Kukri III alongside Gurkha units deployed by the British Army in the archipelago.
The main objective of this phase is to train shooters from the Second Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) in a large-scale live-fire exercise using blank ammunition. This will be the unit’s final training activity before completing its deployment on the islands. The maneuvers will take place at Onion Range, in the center of Soledad Island, near the Mount Pleasant Military Complex. Additionally, between March 18 and 21, the troops will operate in Stanley Common, with exercises on Challenger, Wall, Harriet, and Tumbledown mountains, both during the day and at night.
Exercise Cape Kukri III marks the conclusion of a series of training sessions aimed at reinforcing the British military presence in the Malvinas Islands. In this context, the participation of the Gurkhas—a unit composed mainly of troops from Nepal—stands out for its high level of training and its historic role in British operations across various strategic territories.
The Mount Pleasant Military Base serves as the operations center for these exercises. It hosts four Typhoon fighter-bombers, a Voyager refueling aircraft, and an Atlas C1 (Airbus A400M) transport aircraft. From there, the planning of maneuvers is coordinated to strengthen the British position in the archipelago, despite ongoing concerns over the militarization of the region.
The participation of the Gurkhas in these drills has become a regular feature of the British defensive strategy in the Malvinas Islands. Since the 1982 war, the United Kingdom has maintained a permanent military presence in the territory, which has led to continued protests from Argentina.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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