Jun 2015 - Indian Navy Ships on Overseas Deployment
In pursuit of India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policy, ships of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet are on an operational deployment to South China Sea, South East Asia and Australia. During this overseas deployment, the ships will make port calls at Singapore, Jakarta (Indonesia), Freemantle (Australia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Sattahip (Thailand) and Sihanoukville (Cambodia). The Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, VSM, is leading the deployment.
Exchange of Mementos
Indian warships INS Ranvir, a guided missile destroyer, Commanded by Captain Jaswinder Singh, INS Satpura, indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate, Commanded by Captain Hari Krishnan, INS Shakti, a sophisticated Fleet tanker and support ship, Commanded by Captain Vikram Menon and INS Kamorta, the latest indigenous Anti Submarine Warfare corvette, Commanded by Commander Manoj Kumar Jha, are participating in this deployment.
Call on Fleet Commander, Singapore Navy
The visits are aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter-operability between navies. During the stay in harbour, various activities such as official calls, formal reception on board ships, ships open to visitors, guided tours for Indian naval personnel and professional interactions between naval personnel have been planned. After each port call, Passage Exercises have also been planned with the host navies of Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. In addition to showing the Flag in this region of vital strategic importance to India and making port calls at important ports of friendly countries, these ships will also participate in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition 2015 (IMDEX-15) at Singapore.
Guard of Honour for C-in-C East
A major activity will be the conduct of the annual bilateral naval exercise SIMBEX with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The exercise is held alternatively off Singapore in South China Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This edition of the Exercise is being conducted off Singapore, and includes participation of INS Satpura, with integral helicopter, and INS Kamorta from the Indian Navy, and RSS Supreme and RSS Archer (submarine) from the RSN. Maritime Patrol Aircraft and fighter aircraft of Singapore Air Force and the IN Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I will also participate in the exercise. SIMBEX-15 would include all facets of naval operations such as Air Defence, Air and Surface practice firing, Maritime Security and SAR, which would enhance the inter-operability between the two navies.
