Army to hold joint exercise with coast guard, says Rawat

: Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat Monday said the army is planning tocarry out a joint training and exercise with the Indian Coast Guard.

He said the coast guard and the Indian Navy maintain coastal security and maritime surveillance.

After commissioning the coast guard's offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Veera, the third in the series of the new-generation OPV here, he said Veera would help the coast guard monitor maritime boundaries more effectively.

The 97-metre long and 15-metre wide Veera has a range of 5,000 nautical miles and would be commanded by Commandant Girish Datt, he said.

The vessel can attain a sustainedspeed of upto 26 knots and is armed with two 12.7-mm heavy machine guns (HMGs) and a 30 mm-naval gun with fire control system, Rawat said.

The ship is also equipped with an integrated bridge system (IBS), integrated platform management system (IPMS) and a high-power external firefighting system.

It can carry one twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats, includingtwo inflatable boats, for boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol, he said.

Coast guard director general Rajendra Singh, eastern naval Command chief Vice-Admiral Karambir Singhand other officers were present on the occasion.