- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The navies of India and Russia commenced a six-day bilateral naval exercise, as stated by the Ministry of Defence.
This naval exercise, named ‘INDRA,’ began on Friday in Chennai and marks the 14th iteration of this significant partnership in maritime affairs between the two countries. The exercise is set to conclude on April 2.
Since its establishment in 2003, Exercise ‘INDRA’ has represented the long-standing strategic relationship between the Indian and Russian navies. It has developed into a key symbol of maritime cooperation, demonstrating both nations’ commitment to improving naval interoperability and operational collaboration.
The exercise is being carried out in two phases: the Harbour Phase from March 28 to 30 in Chennai, followed by the Sea Phase from March 31 to April 2 in the Bay of Bengal. The Russian naval ships participating include Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, alongside Indian naval ships Rana and Kuthar, as well as the maritime patrol aircraft P8I.
During the Harbour Phase, activities will include an opening ceremony, subject matter expert exchanges, reciprocal visits, sports events, and pre-sail briefings for personnel from both navies.
The Sea Phase will showcase advanced naval exercises, such as tactical maneuvers, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, underway replenishment, helicopter cross-deck landings, and the exchange of sea-riders, according to Ministry of Defence officials.
Both phases aim to reinforce maritime cooperation, strengthen friendships, share best operational practices, and enhance diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In addition, the Indian Navy is set to participate in a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise in mid-April 2025 with several African countries, dubbed ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement’ (AIKEYME), which translates to ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit. This initiative seeks to enhance interoperability with various navies and maritime agencies.
The inaugural edition of this exercise will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and is expected to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The exercise will span six days and include participation from eight countries: Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, in addition to the co-hosts.
