Article Posted on : - Jun 02, 2009

A file photo of Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra

HAIFA (PTI): India’s front-line warship INS Brahmaputra has arrived on a four-day goodwill visit to this northern coastal city to reaffirm old ties with Israel.

“The visit shows the importance India attaches to its relationship with Israel. Not only that, it is also fitted with the ‘state-of-the-art’ Israeli Barak missile system as the first line of defence,” vessel commander Captain Philipose G. Pynumootil told a gathering on the ship.

“The enthusiasm clearly shows that the Indian ship is in friendly waters. It is not only in Israel but a part of it is also Israeli,” India’s ambassador Navtej Sarna said, referring to the Barak system.

Navy officials on board told PTI that Indian warships have regularly paid visits to ports in West Asia and East Africa reaffirming their peaceful presence and solidarity with countries in the region.

Among the visitors was a former commander of the old INS Brahmaputra, Jack Japheth, now an Israeli citizen settled in Tel Aviv after retirement.

INS Brahmaputra, one of the Indian Navy’s finest guided missile frigate, arrived here from Eritrea. It has a versatile suite of long range sensors, incorporating radars, sonars and electronic warfare equipment that enable her to simultaneously address threats in all three dimensions — surface, sub-surface and air.

When needed, she can bring to bear awesome offensive or defensive fire power, with her wide-ranging top of the line ordnance.