Navy, Army chiefs witness naval war exercise

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Army chief Bipin Rawat on Monday saw the firing of Brahmos missile from INS Chennai, surface-to-air missile engagement and gunnery shoot at Indian Navy's war exercise Tropex 2017.

"Tropex 17 assumes special significance in the backdrop of the current security scenario, being aimed at testing combat readiness of the combined fleets of the Indian Navy, and the assets of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard," an official statement said.

It will also strengthen inter-operability and joint operations in a complex environment.

"The high-point of the exercise was Large Force Engagement by the fleet units against threat simulated by air element from IAF comprising AWACS, SU 30s, Jaguars and IL 78 (AAR)," the statement said.

"These threats emanated from different directions and were neutralised by using Beyond Visual Range missile capabilities of MiG 29Ks, operating from INS Vikramaditya in coordination with other fleet units," it said.

The Navy chief congratulated the men for keeping the fleet combat ready at all times and executing all assigned tasks in a "professional manner".

The month-long Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (Tropex) started on January 24, encompassing all dimensions of maritime warfare and involves over 60 ships, five submarines and more than 70 naval aircraft.

The area of the exercise spans the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea and north central Indian Ocean.

The last edition of the exercise was conducted in January 2015.

--IANS

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