Indian Navy to conduct exercise in Arabian Sea

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 20

The Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has started a fortnight long exercise in the Arabian Sea.

“With the withdrawal of the monsoon and improved sea conditions, this is the right time to test our operational preparedness, validate procedures and try out new strategies and concepts of naval operations,” a naval spokesperson said.

The exercise will include live firing drills, helicopter operations from ships, operational logistics, and communication standard operating procedures are some of the areas that will form the core of these planned exercises in order to hone operational skills, testing of training efficacy and validate existing seamanship practices and procedures. 

The Indian Navy has been a key presence in the Arabian Sea following its prolonged anti-piracy deployments in the Gulf of Aden and Op Sankalp off the Gulf of Oman.

The Western Naval Command just concluded an offshore security and contingency exercise code named “Prasthan” on October 17.

It may also be recalled that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had embarked the Western Fleet in end-September and the Navy had used the opportunity to exercise carrier-based evolutions and fighter operations during the event.