Navy graduating towards holding multinational exercises in future

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

On Board USS Boxer(Off Goa Coast), Oct 29: The Indian Navy is graduating towards conducting ''integrated multi-national exercises'', having gained considerable experience in holding bi-national exercises with developed countries for more than a decade.

''We are now graduating towards conducting only integrated multi-national naval exercises in future. The cost of such military operations cannot be spelt out in tangible terms but their benefits are paramount for the country's vast maritime security,'' Flag-Officer-Commanding Western Fleet Rear Admiral Anup Singh announced here today.

He was interacting with a team of journalists from across the country in connection with ''A Day At Sea'' programme linked to the on-going 13-day Indo-American bilateral naval exercises, ninth in its series, codenamed ''Malabar-2006'' that began off this Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea on October 24.

In fact the current exercise too turned out to be 'multi-national' with the participation of the Canadian Coast Guard vessels, which will further strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

More than 3000 personnel belonging to five military service organisations of the three nations had been engaged in various tactical exercises, basic to the most sophisticated simulated warfare.

The taskforce Malabar comprises 11 warships including two coast guard vessels, two submarines, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters under the tactical command of Rear Admiral Anup Singh.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Canadian High Commissioner in India David Malone and US Deputy Chief of Mission Geoffrey Pyatt.

Captain Bruce W Nicholas, Commanding Officer, USS Boxer LHD4, the amphibious assault ship of the US' ''Expeditionary Strike Group'' besides captains of different Indian war ships were also present.

Leaders of both the countries have wished that the tri-national naval exercises would further strengthen the bonds besides enhancing the skills of the navies in attending to emerging challenges such as extending humanitarian assistance in times of major disasters like tsunami apart from meeting terrorist threats.

The unique aspect of this ongoing exercises is that for the first time, the US Expeditionary Strike Group-5(ESG-5) commanded by captain David S Angood is participating. The participating Indian warships included INS Mysore (Delhi class destroyer), the guided missile frigates Beas and Ganga(three with the reconnaisaance SeaKing Helicopters), the Fleet replenishment tanker Shakti with a Chetak Helicopter, a large landing ship (Tank) Gharial, the stealth sub-surface killer submarine INS Shankush with maritime reconnaissance aircraft Dornier and TU142, Coast Guard Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel CGS Samar.

The US Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG-05) comprises USS Boxer (landing platform - helicopter&dock), the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, guided missile destroyers Benfold and Howard and the US Coast Guard Cutter Midgett.

The Canadian Frigate Ottawa is embeded within the ESG force while the nuclear powered submarine SSN Providence and maritime patrol aircraft a P-3C Orion were operating from Goa.

The two navies would, for the first time, also exercise expeditionary operations off the Konkan coast. Some of the Indian troops, who had already been trained on board INS Gharial landing ship, would now share their experiences with the US marines in the operation involving sea-borne landing under the current Malabar series.

Both the navies had now been engaged in advanced exercises including anti-submarine operations, maritime interdictions, weapon firings, Visit Board Search&Seizure (VBSS) operations, Dissimilar Air Combat (DACT), cross deck flying and a simulated 'war at sea'.

''At one level, such Navy-to-Navy interactions help us to hone our skills and audit our own standards by first hand comparison with navies of advanced countries. On the other hand, it improves mutual understanding and co-operation and helps evolve inter-operability through common drills and procedures,'' according to official sources.

The major focus of the exercise was a demonstration on the expeditionary srike capability of the US marine Corps. Indian Navy's landing ship INS Gharial embarked with 9 sikh LI Army troops also joined the Task Force Malabar for amphibious landing on Ganpatiphule beach wherein the army jawans were inserted using Boxer's LCAC(Light Combat Air Cushion) equipment yesterday.

Besides, in marine commandos and explosive ordnance and disposal team were utilised for beach securing operations,which could be vital in checking piracy and attending to human disasters like Tsunami.

''The canvas of bilateral exercises has enlarged further over the years, with mutual confidence in combined operations encompassing advanced manoeuvres at sea, air and under water and from water to land indicating high levels of inter operability and commonality of procedures,'' they said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pyatt said the US and India were likely to evolve a military policy for mutual partnership in November this year that could help meet future challenges.

''US and Canada share a longstanding relationship as NATO and North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement partners and peaceful neighbours. We are also fighting together in India's neighbourhood to defeat the Taliban and help cement Afghan democracy'' he added.

The Canadian High-Commissioner said such multi-national naval exercises would help the nations face complex challenges. In this connection, he eulogised the role of India in reconstructing war-torn Afghanistan where Canada and the US had positioned their forces.

UNI

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