Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy in strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability ..reports Asian Lite News
INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 March 23, according to a Defence Ministry statement issued today.
The Indian Navy ship will exercise with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce, the statement explained.
IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world in which the Indian Navy will be participating for the first time. This also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the combined maritime force (CMF). Earlier, in Nov 2022, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.
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Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy in strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). It also enables the Navy to contribute constructively to regional stability and security, the statement added.
Rajnath on INS Vikrant
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the first phase of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2023 on board INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, on its opening day on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.
The conference has its own significance and relevance due to the prevailing geostrategic situation in the region, the ministry noted.
According to the Ministry of Defence, “The novelty of this year’s conference lies in the fact that the first phase of the Commanders’ Conference is being held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant”.
An operational demonstration at sea is also planned as part of the activities on Day 1 of the conference.
The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force would also interact with the Naval Commanders on subsequent days to address the convergence of the three Services vis-à-vis common operational environment, and avenues of augmenting Tri-Service synergy and readiness towards the defence of the nation and India’s national interests.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, along with other Naval Commanders will review major Operational, Material, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last six months. Additionally, they will deliberate upon future plans for important activities and initiatives.
Naval Commanders attending the conference would also be provided with an update on the ‘Agnipath Scheme’ executed in the Indian Navy in November 2022. The first batch of Agniveers, which also includes the first batch of women Agniveers of the Indian Armed Forces, is scheduled to graduate from INS Chilka by the end of this month.
The Indian Navy has witnessed significant growth in its operational tasking over the years in consonance with India’s growing maritime interests. During the conference, the Naval Commanders would also deliberate the Indian Navy’s readiness to address the challenges to the country’s interests.
“The Indian Navy remains focused on being a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force and continues to assiduously execute its mandate as the maritime security guarantor of the country,” the Ministry of Defence said.
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