Article Posted on : - Feb 14, 2014

INS Viraat aircraft is taking part in the naval drill. Indian Navy photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Nuclear submarine INS Chakra and the newly-inducted P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft are taking part in Navy's month-long wargames which started on Feb. 13 along the Eastern seaboard near Visakhapatnam.

During the exercise, both the Eastern and the Western fleet ships and assets are taking part in a networked environment after the launch of a surveillance satellite of the Navy, Naval officials said in New Delhi.

"Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi along with Eastern naval Commander Vice Admiral Anil Chopra embarked the combined fleets at sea off the East coast on Thursday," a Navy release said.

Amongst the large number of participating units are the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat and the nuclear submarine INS Chakra.

"The exercise will be conducted against the backdrop of two completely networked fleets, widely dispersed across the Indian Ocean Region, operating in a dense maritime environment," it said.

In the war drills, the Navy will carry out "missile, torpedo and gun-firing. This year's exercise will witness the maiden participation of the recently acquired P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, as also the Hawk fighter trainer aircraft."

The Navy said it will deploy its UAVs and Airborne Early Warning helicopter along with Air-to-Air refueller aircraft, Jaguar and SU-30 combat aircraft of Air Force.