Full scale Indo-US joint naval exercises begin off Goa coast

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Full scale Indo-US joint naval exercises begin off Goa coast

 

Panaji, UNI:

 

 

The second phase of the 'Malabar' series of Indo-US joint naval

exercises, marked by full-scale inter-operability techniques, began

off the Goa coast this morning.

 

The exercises, aimed at preparing the two navies to tackle marke

terrorism, smuggling and piracy, were expected to give further boost

to the bilateral relations.

 

The eighth edition of Malabar series exercises now underway would

become a regular annual feature, according to representives of both

the navies -- Capt S P S Cheema and Captain Mike Smith.

 

 

While Capt Cheema is officer of the tactical command, his US

counterpart is a commodore of the destroyer squadron participating

in the exercises.

 

The second phase of exercises include complex hi-tech operations

including sub-surface, surface and air warfare culminating in a '24-

war at sea' begining on October 1.

 

Around 6,000 officers and soldiers are engaged on six ships,

including the aircraft carrier 'INS Virat' from the Indian side.

 

Besides guided missile destroyer INS Mysore, the other Indian

vessels participating in the exercises include the guided missle

frigates INS Godavari and INS Gomati, replenishment tanker INS

Aditya and Shishumar class submarine INS Shankul.

 

The US navy, on the other hand, has as many as 6,500 personnel

operating on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which has on board

various aircraft like FA-18 Super Hornet fighters and E2C Hawkeye

Air Early Warning Aircraft, two Aegis class destroyers, one Los

Angeles class Nuclear Submarine and P3C Orion maritime aircraft.

 

In the first phase of the exercises that began on September 24, the

aircraft carriers of the two navies had participated.

 

The thrust this time is on aviation interoperability between FA-18

and Sea Harrier fighters, advanced anti-submarine warfare, sea

control missions, fleet air defence, surface firing, maritime

interdiction operations and VBBS (visit, board, search and seizure)

operations towards anti-piracy and counter terrorism actions at sea.

 

In order to streamline interoperability and derive maximum training

value from such exercises, the two navies have evolved standard

operating procedures, which were regularly tested and updated during

the exercises benefitting both besides to strengthen the

partnership.

 

The two navies feel that the constructive engagement between the two

on issues such as counter terrorism, anti-piracy, maritime

interdiction, search and rescue and other operations would be

mutually beneficial and operationally relevant.

 

''The sustained interaction over the past eight years enabled

setting in place a strong foundation on which a meaningful

partnership continues to grow,'' the two naval representatives

observed.

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