Russia, India start joint naval drills in Indian Ocean

RIA Novosti ^ | 27/ 01/ 2009

[pobeda1945]

NEW DELHI, January 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian and Indian navies have started joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea off the Indian coast, an Indian military source said on Tuesday.

INDRA is a biennial Russian-Indian exercise aimed at practicing cooperation in enforcing maritime law and countering piracy, terrorism and drug smuggling. INDRA-2009 is the fourth such exercise since 2003 and will involve a number of live-fire drills.

"The first stage of a PASSEX type exercise involves practicing combat interoperability and communications drills," the source said.

Russia's Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser from the Northern Fleet and the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi are taking part in the first stage, which will last until January 29.

Following the first stage, the Russian cruiser will visit the port of Marmugao in the Indian state of Goa on January 29-31 before heading to the Somali coast to participate in the second stage of the drills, which involves practicing joint anti-piracy operations.

The Pyotr Veliky will join up with a task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet, comprising the Admiral Vinogradov, an Udaloy class destroyer, a tugboat and two fuel tankers, which are carrying out anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

Pirates have been increasingly active in the waters off Somalia, where over 110 ships were attacked in 2008, with 42 vessels seized and 815 crew members abducted. Up to 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off the coast of the lawless East African nation.

[OldTCS]

Of course!
But a lot of effort does go into communications, unit coordination, not running into each other, etc. Generally gives a good indication of how poorly everything is going to go if they ever have to do it for real. :)

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Usually such exercises are meant for non-military ops.

Last year, the USN conducted exercises with the Chinese navy.

[BBell]

The Indian Navy also does joint exercises with the US Navy. Are they hedging their bets or are the Russians and Indians both looking at China as a potential threat?

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Then what was the purpose of the US Navy conducting exerises with the Chinese PLA Navy, last year?

[BBell]

I'll be honest with you that I'm not sure about last year but in the past we have done exercises with the ChiComs for maritime safety purposes, what ever that means, and joint cooperation in sea rescue plans and some anti-pirate maneuvers. I suspect a good portion of the exercises were so the ChiComs and the US Navy could size up each others capabilities. Although I'm sure each side held back their true potential.

[Thunder90]

The Russian Navy also conducts joint exercises with the Chinese navy. Also, the US, NATO, the Russians, Chinese, and Indians are conducting a joint op in the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy.