04.12.2012
Having completed the visit to Indian port of Mumbai, Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit held the INDRA-2012 exercise in the Arabian Sea along with Indian colleagues. Russia was represented by destroyer Marshall Shaposhnikov, seagoing tanker Irkut and rescue tug Alatau; India delegated frigate INS Tabar and destroyer INS Mysore, PF press secretary Capt 1 Rank Roman Martov told PrimaMedia.
Russian and Indian naval mariners held joint communication and maneuvering drills. Such common training activities help naval mariners to understand special signals exchanged in piracy-hazardous regions.
Naval aircraft were also involved in the exercise. Ka-27 helicopter took off
Marshall Shaposhnikov and landed on the deck of Indian destroyer INS
Mysore. The exercise continued with joint gun firing drill.
Staff officers summarized the exercise on board destroyer INS
Mysore. As for commander of the Russian task unit RADM Vladimir Vdovenko, all goals of the exercise were reached.
After that, the ships arranged the farewell ceremony at sea, heading alongside on opposite courses.
Naval mariners of the both countries know each other very well. PF destroyer
Marshall Shaposhnikov visits India for the fifth time now. In her turn, Indian destroyer INS
Mysore also called at PF main base Vladivostok in 2007 to attend the INDRA exercise.
Recall that Russian officers paid a visit to headquarters of India's Western Naval Command in Mumbai. Russian ambassador to India Alaxander Kadakin specially arrived in Mumbai to visit PF ships.
The INDRA exercise attended by Russian and Indian naval assets and land troops are carried out on the regular basis in both countries since early 90's.
