INDRA 2009: Indo Russian Naval Exercise Ready to Start
INDRA-2009 is expected to start on January 26. INDRA is a biennial Indo-Russian joint naval exercise to promote cooperation in enforcing maritime law and countering piracy, terrorism, and drug smuggling. INDRA-2009 is the fourth such exercise since 2003.
Some of the interesting features of INDRA-2009 are:
* Some of the participating Russian ships:
o Russia’s Northern Fleet: Pyotr Veliky (BCGN 099) nuclear-powered missile cruiser, commissioned in 1996. russian_navy
o Russia’s Pacific Fleet: Admiral Vinogradov (DDG 572), an Udaloy class destroyer, commissioned in 1988 (took part in INDRA 2007 also).
o Russian Boris Chilikin class fleet oiler: Boris Butoma, built in 1978.
o Russian Dubna class oiler: Pechenga built in 1978 (also took part in INDRA 2005, 2007).
o Rescue tugboat Fotiy Krylov
* From Indian Navy, a Delhi-class destroyer, a guided-missile frigate are expected to take part with other warships.
* The five day exercise is to be held in the Arabian Sea.
* The Russian warships will also make a port call at Goa.
After the exercises, the Russian warships will pay visits to several ports in Indonesia and China.
Some photographs:
Pyotr Veliky (BCGN 099) nuclear-powered missile cruiser
Admiral Vinogradov (DDG 572), an Udaloy class destroyer
Update: January 27
INDRA 2009 has commenced and the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi is taking part in the first stage of exercise which will last until January 29. Thereafter the Russian cruiser Pyotr Veliky will enter the port of Marmugao from January 29-31.
RIA Novosti adds:
Russia, India start joint naval drills in Indian Ocean
NEW DELHI, January 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian and Indian navies have started joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea off the Indian coast, an Indian military source said on Tuesday.
INDRA is a biennial Russian-Indian exercise aimed at practicing cooperation in enforcing maritime law and countering piracy, terrorism and drug smuggling. INDRA-2009 is the fourth such exercise since 2003 and will involve a number of live-fire drills.
"The first stage of a PASSEX type exercise involves practicing combat interoperability and communications drills," the source said.
Russia's Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser from the Northern Fleet and the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi are taking part in the first stage, which will last until January 29.
Following the first stage, the Russian cruiser will visit the port of Marmugao in the Indian state of Goa on January 29-31 before heading to the Somali coast to participate in the second stage of the drills, which involves practicing joint anti-piracy operations.
The Pyotr Veliky will join up with a task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet, comprising the Admiral Vinogradov, an Udaloy class destroyer, a tugboat and two fuel tankers, which are carrying out anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
Pirates have been increasingly active in the waters off Somalia, where over 110 ships were attacked in 2008, with 42 vessels seized and 815 crew members abducted. Up to 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off the coast of the lawless East African nation.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20090127/119829443.html
Update: January 29
Russian nuclear powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky has entered Goa on a two days visit for fresh water and food supply. Thereafter second stage of INDRA would commence. It is further reported that Admiral Levchenko destroyer from the Northern Fleet would also participate in the INDRA-2009 exercise. Read more from
RIA Novosti.
It is further reported that the Russian Ambassador to India Vyacheslav Trubnikov, also witnessed the exercises which involved several difficult manoeuvres including destroying aircraft carriers for the benefit of the Indian Navy.
Update: January 31
Russia’s Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser has left the port of Mormugao and headed for the Somali coast to participate in the second stage of the INDRA-2009, which involves practicing joint anti-piracy operations.
Update: February 04
Six amazing photographs of the nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Veliky’s visit to Goa after taking part in the first stage of the Indra-2009 are now available. (Attached below)
Update: February 12
Russian and Indian warships have completed the final stage of the INDRA-2009 joint naval exercises.
Ria Novosti adds:
Russian, Indian navies complete INDRA-2009 exercises
MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russian and Indian warships have completed the final stage of the INDRA-2009 joint naval exercises, practicing anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast, Russia's Navy commander said on Wednesday.
INDRA is a biennial Russian-Indian exercise aimed at practicing cooperation in enforcing maritime law and countering piracy, terrorism and drug smuggling. INDRA-2009 was the fourth such exercise since 2003 and involved two stages, held in the Indian Ocean.
"The second stage of the INDRA-2009 exercise was held off the Somali coast and was primarily dedicated to anti-piracy operations," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said.
Russia was represented by the Pacific Fleet's Admiral Vinogradov destroyer and the Northern Fleet's Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser, Admiral Levchenko destroyer and several support ships. India sent the Tabar missile frigate.
"The Russian and Indian warships that took part in the exercise practiced escorting commercial ships in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden," he said.
The admiral added that the warships made extensive use of deck-based aircraft to locate and monitor the movements of small boats that could have presented potential threats to commercial shipping.
"There were no attempts to seize commercial ships in the area during our exercise," Vysotsky said.
Russia's Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser and the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi took part in the first stage of INDRA-2009, which included a PASSEX type exercise practicing combat interoperability and communications drills, and lasted from January 26 until February 1.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090211/120091367.html