India, US kick-starts two-day naval exercise in eastern Indian Ocean Region

NEW DELHI, MAR 29: Strengthening growing bilateral ties in defence and military partnership, India and the US kicked off a two-day naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. Navies of India and the US held joint drills in a passage exercise (PASSEX) conducted, with Indian Air Force fighters being part of such an exercise for the first time.

 

 

PASSEXs are conducted regularly by the Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies as they visit each other’s ports or during a rendezvous at sea.

 

 

Indian Navy deployed its warship Shivalik and long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I in the 'PASSEX' exercise while the US Navy was represented by the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. "In a first enhancing Jointmanship, Indian Air Force fighters were also included in the Exercise affording IAF an opportunity to practice Air Interception, air defence with US Navy close to Indian Coast,” the Indian Navy added.

 

 

A carrier battle group or carrier strike group is a mega naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanied by a large number of destroyers, frigates, and other ships. In a first, enhancing joint manship, Indian Air Force fighters have also been included in the exercise affording the IAF an opportunity to practice air interception and air defense with the US Navy.

 

The exercise came over a week after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin flew into India as part of his three-nation first overseas tour that signaled the Joe Biden administration's strong commitment to its 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. The exercise is aimed at consolidating the synergy and interoperability achieved during the Malabar exercise that took place in November last year. Besides they participated in the Malabar naval exercise.

 

On the other hand, the Indian Navy will be part of a French naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal next month. The participating nations also include the other Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) member countries -- Australia, Japan and the United States of America (USA). A similar a PASSEX was carried out between Indian and US navies in November last year, soon after the Malabar exercise involving Indian Navy, US, Australian and Japanese navies.

 

 

This is the first time that the Indian Navy will be part of the France-led war game ‘La Perouse’. Until now, India was not invited for the French naval exercise. Indian and Russian navies had also carried out a two-day passage exercise (PASSEX) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in December 2020.

 

Such exercises are part of ground maritime cooperation between countries in wake of China’s growing influence and increased forays in the India Ocean Region.