Article Posted on : - Dec 08, 2013

A file photo of RIMPAC 2010.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Reflecting their close defence ties, the Indian Navy for the first time will take part in one of the world's biggest naval wargames hosted by the US in Hawaii in June next year.

More than 20 countries, including China and Japan, are expected to take part in the international maritime war exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Indian Navy will be sending its warships for the multilateral exercise hosted by the US Pacific Command in which it has so far been only an observer, sources said.

RIMPAC 2014 is expected to see the participation of all types of naval vessels and aircraft, including surface warships, submarines, surveillance platforms and reconnaissance planes.

Navy sources said no final decision has so far been taken by the government about the ships and aircraft to be sent for the wargames.

India and the US have been enhancing defence ties in the last decade and the navies of the two countries have held the Malabar and Salvex series of exercises.

In the Malabar series wargames, Indian and American warships have held drills in either the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea.

The two sides had involved the Japanese maritime forces in the wargames in 2007 but India decided against having multilateral exercises after China raised questions over the intent behind such moves.