Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducts the 4th Edition of biennial Maritime Warfare exercise – “AUSINDEX 21” in the North Australian Exercise Area from 6th to 10th September, 2021. Indian Naval Ships (INS) Shivalik & Kadmatt, under the Command of Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti, participated in the Naval exercise.
- INS Shivalik & Kadmatt were indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively.
i.HMAS Warramunga, an Anzac Class Frigate, represents the Australian side in the exercise.
Note – Previously in August 2021, HMAS Warramunga, INS Shivalik & INS Kadmatt, took part in the MALABAR naval exercise.
ii.The Navies will conduct a complex surface, sub-surface and air operations between ships, submarines, helicopters & patrol aircrafts.
iii.Surface exercise will see the participation of HMAS Rankin, Royal Australian Air Force P-8A and F-18A aircraft & integral helicopters of both the Navies.
iv.India & Australia have committed to maintaining peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region as per the “2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”
Note – The Naval Exercise comes ahead of the 1st ever “2+2” Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting that is scheduled to be held between India & Australia in November 2021 at New Delhi.
AUSINDEX:
- The 1st edition of AUSINDEX Naval exercise was conducted in 2015 between India & Australia.
- In the 2019 edition that was held in Bay of Bengal witnessed the 1st ever anti-submarine drills between the navies.
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