Indian Navy conducts large-scale fleet exercise on eastern seaboard
The exercise has been conducted to maintain high levels of combat readiness and counter emerging threats, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The exercises were conducted across a vast geographical area, extending from the Northern Bay of Bengal to the Andaman Sea.
As many as 24 ships, 2 submarines and over 10 aircraft participated in the exercise, which included the nuclear submarine Chakra as well as units from the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
A ship from the Western Naval Command, with the Kamov-31 Air Early Warning helicopter, was also deployed for the exercise.
With a view to hone war fighting skills and concepts, various aspects of maritime warfare were dove-tailed into the exercise, over a period of two weeks.
A wide range of weapons, including Surface to Surface missiles (SSMs), Surface to Air missiles (SAMs) and Land Attack Missiles (LAMs) were fired from various platforms.
The Hawk fighter aircraft and P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft were also integrated into the exercise.
Over the past few years, there has been increased sightings of Chinese submarines in the region, including a nuclear attack vessel.
Though the Chinese claim to have deployed them as part of their anti-piracy task force, Indian security establishment has been sceptical about the claims.
