India-US Joint Force Maritime Exercise Concludes
New Delhi: Demonstrating complex operations such as anti-submarine warfare, joint air operations, and command and control (C2) integration, Indian and the US navies concluded the joint drill passage exercise (PASSEX) on March 29, with Indian Air Force fighters being part of such an exercise for the first time.
India and the US began a two-day naval exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region on March 28. The exercises were focused on delineating the capacity of the two nations to operate together to advance a common vision of Indo-Pacific, ensuring peace and stability.
INS Shivalik (F 47) with embarked helicopter, Maritime Patrol Aircraft (P-8I) from INAS 312 – “The Albatross”, and Indian Air Force aircraft from Squadron No. 222 along with USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 75), the “Wolf Pack”, USS Russell (DGG 59), and USS Theodore Roosevelt exercised together seamlessly across all domains, demonstrating the compatibility of their platforms and operations on the sea and in the air.
Indian Navy in an official statement stated, “Consolidating synergy and interoperability achieved during Malabar 2020 INS Shivalik with integral helicopter and Indian Navy’s Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with US Navy’s USS Theodore Rosevelt Carrier Strike Group in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region.”
The exercise came over a week after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India as a part of his three-nation first overseas tour for strong commitment to the relations with its close allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the visit, both sides resolved to further consolidate their robust defence cooperation through deeper military-to-military engagement with Austin describing the partnership as a “stronghold” of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Earlier, two French Navy ships — assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre and Surcouf frigate — arrived at the Kochi Port, Kerala for France-led ‘La Pérouse’ joint exercise. For the first time, the Indian Navy will be part of a French naval exercise.
The navies of India, US, Japan and Australia will join France for its “La Perouse” exercise in the Bay of Bengal from April 4 to 7.
India will deploy frontline warships and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for what is being dubbed as a “Quad-plus France” manoeuvre, and the five countries will delineate their naval strength and commitment to freedom of navigation by practicing complex drills.
Furthermore, bilateral “Varuna” naval exercise between India and France will also be expanded to include UAE in the northwest Arabian Sea near the strategically-located Persian Gulf from April 25 to 27.
France, Germany, UK and some other countries are all keen to cooperate with the Quad countries, which had also conducted the 24thedition of the `Malabar’ naval exercise in November, to keep the Indo-Pacific secure.
New Delhi has also inked reciprocal military logistics pacts with the other three Quad nations as well as France, South Korea and Singapore to enhance its strategic reach in the entire Indian Ocean region and beyond.
The Indian Navy has participated in 13 bilateral and multilateral exercises so far this year.
(PBNS)
