Ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet will also be exercising with the Indian ships The flotilla is being led by Rear Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Fleet
based in Vizag.
The ships have completed harbour exercises on Wednesday, 16 July, and will now embark on the sea phase of the exercise. The harbour phase consists of a table-top exercise creating protocols of communication like common signals, common terms to be used during the sea phase.
Shivalik is one of the most modern ships of the navy, a stealth frigate, while Rannvijay is a destroyer and Shakti is a replenishment ship. ‘The Russians have guided-missile cruiser Varyag, destroyer Bystry, large landing craft Peresvet along with supply vessels. Air assets of the Pacific Fleet and Indian Navy will also be actively involved in the exercise,’ said a Navy official.
The main aim of this exercise, begun in 2003 is to deepen cooperation, and have interoperability.
Considering that the Indian Navy uses a major part of its assets procured from Russia, the latter goal of the exercise is easily achieved.
‘The sea phase of the exercise will be held from 17 to 19 July off Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan.
During the sea phase, ships of the two countries will engage in tactical manoeuvring, defence against un-alerted raids, cross deck helicopter operations, rendering assistance to a ship in distress, replenishment at sea, joint management of anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare,’ the officer said.
There are plans of firing their missile-artillery on land-based targets. Eventually, as a part of the exercise, the Indian Navy ships will be given a farewell on the high seas.