Aircraft carriers, N-powered sub deployed to test Navy’s readiness

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

The Navy has deployed its sea-borne aircraft carriers and its lone nuclear- powered submarine to test its sea readiness.

At present, Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise (TROPEX-2015) is being conducted off the Goa coast in the Arabian Sea. The exercise is to validate the Navy’s concept of operations and integration of new acquisitions with the fleet with each being connected electronically.

Two wholly networked fleets of the Navy — the Eastern and the Western fleet —were kept widely dispersed across seas in the Indian Ocean, operating in an electronic environment to match technical proficiency. All operations were facilitated by a seamless communication network, including the use of Rukmini—- the Navy’s dedicated satellite.

New weapons, sensors, communication systems and tactics are being tested and tried to optimise the net combat power of the fleets. Over 40 warships, including the two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat, submarines (including INS Chakra), aircraft and UAVs are deployed. IAF fighter jets, Sukhoi-30-MKI, Mirages and Jaguars will also participate.

The Navy demonstrated multiple facets of operations during the period which encompassed a variety of weapon firings, MiG 29K and Sea Harrier operations from the two aircraft carriers, integration of the P8I aircraft with fleet, and operations by the Navy’s Marine Commandos.

Brahmos test-fired

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh boarded INS Vikramaditya last night and witnessed a successful vertical launch of the Brahmos, a supersonic long-range anti-shipping cruise missile, from the recently commissioned stealth destroyer INS Kolkata.

Parrikar also witnessed a full-scale air power demonstration from INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat with MiG 29 Ks, Sea Harriers fighter jets, and helicopters, the Seakings, UH3H, ALHs and Chetaks.

The recently acquired MiG 29Ks proved their mettle by showing how a landing is made on the short deck of the aircraft carrier, the Ministry of Defence said.