Tag: INDIAN NAVY

Pakistan

Navy Rescues 23 Pakistanis From Somali Pirates In Arabian Sea Ops

By LokMarg

At least 23 Pakistani nationals were rescued from the clutches of Somali pirates during a daring 12-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea, said the Indian Navy.

The dramatic rescue unfolded in the early hours of March 29, 2024, when the Indian Navy warship INS Sumedha intercepted the hijacked vessel, FV Al-Kambar, as it was being held captive by pirates. Acting swiftly, INS Sumedha was soon joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul to bolster the operation.

Utilising their tactical expertise and strategic coordination, Indian naval forces initiated negotiations with the pirates, compelling them to surrender without bloodshed. The surrender marked a decisive victory for the Indian Navy in combating piracy and ensuring the safety of maritime activities in the region.

Following the successful apprehension of the pirates, Indian Naval specialist teams embarked on the FV Al-Kambar to undertake thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks. These meticulous examinations aim to ensure the vessel’s safety before escorting it to a secure area, enabling the resumption of normal fishing activities for its crew.

On Friday evening, the Indian Navy responded to a potential piracy attack on an Iranian fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea, and diverted two naval ships to intercept the hijacked vessel.

The Indian Navy received input regarding a potential piracy incident onboard the Iranian fishing vessel ‘Al Kambar’.

Following this, two Indian Naval ships deployed in Arabian Sea for maritime security operations were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel.

At the time of the incident, the Iranian vessel was approximately 90 Nm south-west of Socotra and was reported to have been boarded by nine armed pirates.

The hijacked fishing vessel was intercepted on March 29.

“Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and safety of seafarers, irrespective of nationalities,” the statement added.

Notably, the Indian Navy has carried out several high-octane operations against piracy attacks lately. Earlier this month, the Indian Navy in a daring operation, intercepted the under-attack pirate ship Ruen, sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions.

The Indian Navy reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers navigating through these perilous waters. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India’s resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws, the Indian Navy said in a statement. (ANI)

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Indian Navy and US Navy amphibious warships

‘Exercise Tiger Triumph’: India, US Navy Warships Undertake Ops In Kakinada

By LokMarg

The Indian Navy and US Navy amphibious warships on Friday undertook operations in the Kakinada region of Andhra Pradesh as part of the ongoing India-US joint exercise ‘Tiger Triumph 2024’.

In the exercise, the integral craft onboard the ships were deployed to undertake various operations, according to an official statement.

Additionally, Cross Deck helicopter operations were also undertaken between the ships of the Indian Navy and the US Navy off Kakinada.

The seamless conduct of multifaceted coordinated operations is indicative of the joint planning and execution, reaffirming the high degree of interoperability between the Armed Forces of the two nations.

The Sea Phase of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2024 commenced on Wednesday, with Indian Navy and US Navy ships sailing out together.

This phase in Visakhapatnam will witness Service personnel from both countries going through various facets of amphibious operations, including coordinated HADR and MEDEVAC.

Exercise ‘Tiger Triumph 2024’, is a bilateral, tri-service exercise between India and the US, being held from March 18-31.

The opening ceremony of the exercise took place onboard INS Jalashwa on March 19.

Earlier on Sunday, a pre-sail conference was conducted at Visakhapatnam to discuss the nuances of the upcoming sea phase of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2024.

The plans were presented to the commanders, with the commanding officers of participating units of the United States Navy and Indian Navy in attendance.

Notably, the exercise is aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enable rapid and smooth coordination between forces of both countries.

“Indian Navy ships with integral helicopters and landing crafts embarked, Indian Navy aircraft, Indian Army personnel and vehicles and Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters, along with the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT), would be participating in the exercise,” the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. (ANI)

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Indian Navy

Navy’s Daring Ops Showcases Its World-Class Defence Capabilities

By LokMarg

The massive operation carried out by the Indian Navy to rescue a commercial ship from pirates off Somalia’s coast last weekend shows how New Delhi’s military has developed special forces capabilities on par with some of the world’s best, CNN reported, citing several analysts.

The navy rescued 17 crew members of the vessel MV Ruen during an anti-piracy operation lasting nearly two days, with no casualties reported. Around 35 pirates surrendered and were taken into custody, the Indian Navy said.

The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet, the Indian Navy release said.

“The success of the operation marks the Indian Navy as a top-class force in terms of training, command and control, and other capabilities,” said John Bradford, a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow.

“What marks this operation as impressive is how risk was minimised by using a coordinated force that includes the use of a warship, drones, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and marine commandos,” he added.

Experts are concerned that the volatile security situation in the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on commercial shipping may tie up international forces and provide a window for Somali pirates in the nearby Horn of Africa – presenting a multi-billion-dollar threat to the global economy, CNN reported.

Yemen and Somalia are among the region’s poorest nations, both ravaged by years of civil war.

Somali pirates’ capture of the MV Ruen in December last year marked the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the country’s coast since 2017.

Spanish, Japanese and Indian warships tracked the Malta-flagged, Bulgarian-managed bulk carrier as it was taken into Somali territorial waters, according to a December report from the European Union Naval Force.

But when the Ruen, now operated by a pirate crew, last week left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy made moves to intercept it.

The destroyer INS Kolkata, operating in the area to help ensure international maritime security, used a ship-launched drone to confirm the Ruen was being operated by armed pirates, the Indian statement said.

After the pirates fired on the drone, destroying it, and then on the Indian warship itself, the INS Kolkata responded by firing on the Ruen, disabling its steering and navigation, the statement said.

As INS Kolkata sought the surrender of the pirates, the commandos parachuted in after a 10-hour flight from India, the air force said on X. Rafts were also dropped into the ocean from the large transport for marines to reach the Ruen.

The Indian show of force proved too much for the pirates, the CNN report added.

“Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered,” the navy statement said.

Bulgarian leaders, including President Rumen Radev, thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the operation.

“My sincere gratitude to (PM Modi) for the brave action of (the) Navy rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship ‘Ruen’ and its crew, including 7 Bulgarian citizens,” Radev posted on X.

Analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, said the incident highlighted the professionalism of the Indian Navy and said Delhi’s marine commando force, known as MARCOS, had learned from its US and British counterparts.

“The Indian Navy itself is a highly trained and disciplined professional force,” Schuster said.

“MARCOS’ nearly eight months of training is modelled after Britain’s SAS. Despite a very intense selection process, only about 10-15 per cent of those who enter the training graduate,” he said.

The analysts further emphasised that the Indian Navy holds over 20 years of experience in anti-piracy operations – and the restive security situation in one of the world’s major shipping lanes meant they were likely to be called on again, as reported by CNN.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, in January that maritime security in the region is a priority for India.

“The ongoing activities there are indeed a matter of concern, and it affects our economic interests,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We are consistently monitoring the situation. Our naval forces, and naval vessels are engaged in ensuring the safety of our commercial vessels,” he added. (ANI)

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Navy Bangladeshi-flagged vessel off the coast of Somalia

Navy Thwarts Piracy Attack On Bangladesh-Flagged Vessel Off Sonalia Coast

By LokMarg

The Indian Navy swiftly responded to an attack by pirates on a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel off the coast of Somalia and deployed its assets to rescue crew members who were taken hostage.

The Bangladesh-flagged vessel MV Abdullah carrying coal was headed from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates when it came under attack by pirates.

“Indian Navy’s Mission deployed warship and an LRMP responded to a piracy attack on MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel, whilst enroute from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates,” the Indian Navy posted on X.

After receiving intimations, the Indian Navy immediately deployed a warship and the Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP). After locating the Bangladesh vessel, it tried to establish communication to ascertain the status of the ship’s crew members, but failed to recieve a response from the ship.

The mission-deployed warship on Maritime Security Operations, which had also been diverted, intercepted the hijacked MV Abdullah on Thursday morning.

The Indian Navy ascertained the safety of the crew on the vessel, who were all Bangladesh nationals held hostage by the armed pirates.

“Indian Navy warship continued to maintain in close vicinity of the MV till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia,” the statement added.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy swiftly responded to a distress call from the Gulf of Aden where a merchant vessel caught fire after being hit by a missile, and rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national.

The Indian Navy informed in a statement on Thursday that its naval warship, INS Kolkata, swiftly acted against Wednesday’s maritime incident and all the crew members were safely evacuated to Djibouti.

Last month, responding to the distress call from a fishing vessel, an Indian Naval ship mission that was deployed in the North Arabian Sea for maritime security operations, provided damage control assistance and undertook strengthening of the hull, rendering the boat safe for further transit.

The relentless and persistent efforts of the Indian Navy reaffirm its resolve towards the safety of all vessels and seafarers transiting in the region, the statement added. (ANI)

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First Training Squadron (1TS) comprising INS

Mauritius: First Training Squadron Of Indian Navy Arrives At Port Louis

By LokMarg

Building bridges of friendship whilst training young minds, the ships of the First Training Squadron (1TS) comprising INS Tir and CGS Sarathi arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius on Monday.

The visit also coincides with the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations on Mar 12.

As a gesture of solidarity and friendship, one helicopter and a contingent of the Indian Navy will participate in the Mauritius National Day city parade. President Droupadi Murmu is the Chief Guest for the National Day celebrations.

Earlier, the ship undertook joint EEZ surveillance with Mauritius Dornier aircraft.

During the visit to Port Louis, various training activities and cross-deck visits are planned. The presence of 1TS is a testament to the shared commitment to regional security and underlines the rich cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Earlier, INS Tir, the lead ship of the First Training Squadron (1TS), participated in Exercise Cutlass Express 24 (CE-24) held at Port Victoria, Seychelles, from February 26 to March 8.

The exercise was inaugurated by the President of the Seychelles in the presence of dignitaries from India, the USA and African countries. As part of Cutlass Express, the Indian Navy actively engaged with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries.

The training was conducted on theoretical and practical aspects of maritime interdiction operations, visit board search and seizure procedures and diving operations. During the sea phase, the ship’s VBSS team boarded the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) ship LE Vigilant and demonstrated procedures for boarding operations.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Mauritius on a three-day state visit on Monday. In a special gesture, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth welcomed President Murmu at the airport with full honours.

“President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn arrives in Mauritius on a 3-day State Visit,” the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal wrote in a post on X.

As a significant highlight of the visit, President Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the National Day celebrations of Mauritius, marking a new milestone in the longstanding friendship between the two countries.

Murmu will also attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12 as the chief guest, on the invitation of the government of Mauritius.

A contingent of the Indian Navy will participate in the celebrations along with two ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron – INS Tir and CGS Sarathi, the MEA release also said.

President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the President of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

During the visit, President Murmu and Prime Minister Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate 14 India-assisted projects, showcasing the growing expanse and multifaceted nature of India’s vibrant development partnership with Mauritius that constitutes a key pillar of the bilateral relationship.

President Murmu will also witness the exchange of important bilateral agreements that seek to further strengthen the robust bilateral institutional collaboration and capacity-building cooperation between the two countries, the MEA release added. (ANI)

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INS Jatayu

Navy Commissions INS Jatayu Base To Strengthen Ops

By LokMarg

The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its second naval base, INS Jatayu at Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep to strengthen its foothold in the region, the Indian Navy said in an official statement.

The INS Jatayu was commissioned in the presence of Adm. R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff, Hon’ble Administrator of Lakshadweep, Shri Praful K Patel, V Adm V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.

According to the statement, “This milestone event strengthens the Indian Navy’s foothold in the Lakshadweep island while extending capacity building, operational reach and sustenance in the region. The establishment of Naval Base at Minicoy will augment connectivity with the mainland, focusing towards comprehensive development of the islands.”

The INS Jatayu will be functioning under the operational control of the Naval Officer in Charge (Lakshadweep), Southern Naval Command.

On the occasion, the chief of Naval Staff was presented with a 50-man Guard of Honour and Commander Vrat Baghel, the first commanding officer of the unit, recited the invocation in Sanskrit, followed by the reading of the commissioning warrant.

After the unveiling of the commissioning plaque, the Naval Ensign was hoisted to the tune of the National Anthem. With the last note of the National Anthem, the commissioning pennant was broken on the mast. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command, senior Naval officers and distinguished guests.

On completion of the commissioning ceremony, the Maritime Operations Center at Minicoy was inaugurated and the Chief of the Naval Staff, interacted with the officers and men of the unit and commended them on this momentous occasion.

INS Jatayu will play a significant role in the Indian Navy’s operational surveillance while embracing the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Additionally, Spokesperson of the Indian Navy shared about the development saying, “#IndianNavy Commissions #INSJatayu at Minicoy, the southernmost island of Lakshadweep. Another step towards Navy’s efforts to incrementally augment security infrastructure at the strategically important islands.” (ANI)

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Naval Officers' Mess in New Delhi

Kurta-Pyjama Debuts At Naval Officers’ Mess

By LokMarg

The Indian Navy has now introduced the kurta-pyjama attire into the naval messes. The recently permitted naval ethnic attire made its debut at a Naval Officers’ Mess in New Delhi.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Vice Chief Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and other naval officers wore the recently permitted naval ethnic attire, Officials said on Sunday.

In a brief statement issued on Sunday, Indian Navy said, “Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Vice Chief Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and other naval officers wore the recently permitted naval ethnic attire which made its debut at a Naval Officers’ Mess in New Delhi”.

The Navy chief highlighted Indian Navy’s achievements – narcotics interception North Arabian Sea, MILAN in the East, Maritime Security Ops in the West and infrastructure development in the South, the statement added.

The INS India which was commissioned on July 13 1941, wrote on X, “Celebration of arrival of Spring Season with Naval Ethnic attire making it’s debut in Naval Officers’ Mess. Adm R Hari Kumar #CNS, highlighted #IndianNavy’s achievements – narcotics interception North Arabian Sea, #MILAN in the East, #MaritimeSecurity Ops in West & infra development in South”.

The tweet was also reposted by the Spokesperson of the Indian Navy.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a naval ensign at the commissioning ceremony of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, with the new flag drawing inspiration from the seal of Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj and the Cross of St George being dropped. (ANI)

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Navy Lakshadweep

Navy To Commission New Base, INS Jatayu, In Lakshadweep

By LokMarg

In a move towards strengthening its position in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy is going to commission a new base, INS Jatayu, in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep.

The Indian Navy is also going to hold its commanders’ conference on board the twin aircraft carriers, including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, where they will be undertaking high-tempo operations like taking off from one carrier and landing at the other, along with participation from other warships and submarines in the carrier battle groups, defence officials told ANI.

The Indian Navy is also going to formally commission the multirole helicopter MH-60 Romeo at Kochi in the next week, they said.

The force would also see the buildings of its naval war college in Goa and facilities in Karwar inaugurated around March 4, the officials said.

Sharing details of the base being put together at Minicoy Islands, the officials said it is being commissioned with a small component of officers and men but would be expanded in future.

“This would also give us a strong foothold in the area to keep an eye on the military and commercial activities of adversaries in the area, as this is around 50 miles from the islands of the Maldives,” an official said. The base would be similar to the INS Baaz created in the Andamans and would have similar capabilities in the Arabian Sea.

The Indian Navy would also be inducting four of its MH-60 Romeo multirole choppers acquired from the US under a government-to-government deal.

The Indian Navy is also going to demonstrate for the first time the twin carrier operations in the areas near Lakshadweep. This would be the first time, after the induction of INS Vikrant, that the Navy would be carrying out the operations of the two aircraft carriers together.

The two carriers were also present in the exercise Milin in Vishakhapatnam to showcase India’s capability to manufacture aircraft carriers for global militaries. (ANI)65/*

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Indian Navy Cabinet Committee CCS

CCS Approves Rs 19,000 Cr Mega Indian Navy Deal For BrahMos Missiles

By LokMarg

In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships.

The deal worth around Rs 19,000 crore was cleared in a meeting held on Wednesday evening, top government sources told ANI.

The contract is set to be signed in the first week of March between the BrahMos Aerospace and Ministry of Defence.

The BrahMos is the main weapon for anti-ship and attack operations for the Indian navy warships which have been regularly firing the weapon system.

The BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture of India and Russia and produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

The BrahMos missile has been indigenised in a big way by the BrahMos corporation and more parts are being indigenised.

The BrahMos missile is also set to be exported soon to the Philippines which is its first global customer.

Many countries in the Southeast Asian region have started showing serious interest in the missile system for deployment in multiple ways.

Brahmos Aerospace, headed by Atul Rane, is also working towards achieving the USD 5 billion export target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BrahMos Chairman had stated that after the first export deal with the Philippines at 375 million dollars, his team was targeting USD 5 billion by 2025.

The Indo-Russian joint venture company had conducted test firings of the missile with a high level of indigenous content, and the missile is being equipped with an indigenous seeker.

The BrahMos missile system sale to the partner countries is also set to open many more windows for other successful weapon systems like the Akash, ATAGS howitzers and other equipment from the Indian industry.

This Indian defence industry is also working on improving its hardware quality to match global competition and achieve success in export markets.

Indian systems are also being showcased in foreign countries and some of the public sector units have also opened up offices in prospective markets for sales and support. (ANI)

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Ex-Navy Men on Death Row

Ex-Navy Men On Death Row In Qatar Return India, Laud PM

By LokMarg

Former Indian Navy personnel who landed at the Delhi airport on Monday morning raised chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal intervention in their case following their release from a Qatar court after months of detention in the Gulf country.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced early Monday morning the release of the Indian nationals who were detained in Qatar.

“The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals,” the statement said.

The men- Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh- were detained in August 2022.

On December 28, 2023, Qatar’s Court of Appeal commuted the death penalty awarded to all eight men in October, 2023.

As the former Indian Navy personnel landed in Delhi, their happiness could not be contained. They said that they wouldn’t have been freed had it for the sustained diplomatic efforts at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s behest to secure their release.

On the sidelines of the COP 28 climate sustainability summit in Dubai in December last year, PM Modi met the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad and had a ‘good conversation’ about the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar. In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi posted a picture with Qatar’s Emir and wrote, “On the sidelines of the #COP28 Summit in Dubai yesterday, had the opportunity to meet HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad, the Amir of Qatar. We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar.”

Speaking to ANI, one of the Navy veterans lauded PM Modi for raising their sentencing with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and said, “I feel relieved and delighted to finally be back home safe and sound. I wish to thank Prime Minister Modi as this wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for his personal intervention to secure our release. I also wish to express my gratitude to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar”

Wearing a relieving smile and a calm demeanour, another released former naval officer told ANI, “Without the intervention of PM Modi, we would not have walked free. We wouldn’t be standing before you today had it not been for his untiring efforts and interventions at the highest levels to get us freedom.”

Another freed navy veteran also came out in praise of the Centre’s intervention in securing their release.

He said, “We, as well as our anxious family members back home, had been waiting for this day for a long time. It all worked out because of PM Modi and his personal intervention in the matter. He took up our case with the highest levels of the Qatari government and eventually secured our release. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to him and the Emir of Qatar.”

“We are very happy to be back and it wouldn’t have been possible had the honourable Prime Minister not taken personal interest in the matter. I also thank the Qatar Emir for his personal involvement in the matter,” another former Navy officer told ANI.

“We waited almost 18 months to be back home to our loved ones in India. We are extremely grateful to PM Modi for getting us back. We wouldn’t have seen this day without the joint efforts of PM Modi and the Emir of Qatar. The personal equations that the two leaders share also helped in our release,” another Navy veteran told ANI after landing in Delhi.

Amid desperate pleas by the anxious kin of the Navy veterans to secure their release and safe passage back to their homeland, the Ministry of External Affairs had assured that it would mobilise all diplomatic channels and arrange legal assistance to bring them back. (ANI)

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