India, US to kick off military drills today

India and the US will kick off a two-week-long tri-service military exercise on Tuesday, aimed at enhancing synergy in disaster relief operations.

Both countries will deploy specialised ships designed for amphibious operations — allowing troops and equipment to land near a shoreline without the need for a berthing jetty or docking at a port.

This marks the fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, which focuses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The exercise aims to develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations and to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a combined coordination centre, ensuring rapid and smooth collaboration between Indian and US joint task forces during exercises and crisis contingencies.

The Indian side would be represented by Indian naval ships INS Jalashwa, INS Gharial , INS Mumbai and INS Shakti equipped with integral helicopters and landing crafts, long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I, Indian Army troops and IAF assets — C-130 aircraft and MI-17 helicopters, along with the rapid action medical team (RAMT). The US side would be represented by US Navy Ships Comstock and Ralph Johnson with troops of the US Marine Division.

The Harbour Phase, scheduled from April 1-7 in Visakhapatnam, will feature Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), sports events and social interactions.

On completion of the Harbour Phase, the ships with troops embarked would sail for a Sea Phase and undertake maritime, amphibious and HADR operations off Kakinada Andhra Pradesh.

During the exercise, a joint command and control centre would be established by the Indian Army and US Marines at the Kakinada Naval Enclave. The IAF and the US Navy medical team would also establish a joint medical camp to provide medical aid.