Indian stealth frigate visits Vietnam

Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Sahyadri on Friday entered Vietnam's Da Nang, and will stay there for four weeks as a part of "operational deployment" in the South China Sea and the northwest Pacific region, a defence statement said.

In its visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing interoperability between the two navies, the ship will engage in various activities aimed at enhancing cooperation and interaction with the Vietnamese navy.

These include official calls and interactions with dignitaries of the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese Peoples' Navy (VPN), an onboard reception and visits by local populace, and professional interaction between personnel of both the navies.

Indian warships had last visited Vietnam's Hai Phong in August last year.

An indigenously-built Shivalik Class multi-role stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri boasts of an impressive array of weaponry in her arsenal, including long range anti-ship missiles, medium and short range surface to air missiles and powerful guns of different calibers. The capability to carry two integral multi-role helicopters significantly enhances its potency.

INS Sahyadri is presently being commanded by Captain Kunal Raj Kumar.