AUSINDEX15, first Australia and India maritime exercise begins in Visakhapatnam

Inaugural bilateral maritime exercise between India and Australia AUSINDEX15, commenced off coast of Visakhapatnam.
The inaugural biennial exercise began with briefings and practical demonstrations ashore between Royal Australian Navy and Indian Navy before moving to sea.
In this maiden edition of exercise

• Three Royal Australian Navy ships viz HMA Ships Sirius (fleet tanker), Arunta (Anzac class frigate) and Sheehan (Collins class submarine) and a Royal Australian Air Force P3C Orion survelliance aircraft have participated.
• They will train with Indian Navy Ships Ranvijayi (Guided missile destroyer), Shivalik (Stelton frigate) and Shakti (fleet tanker) along with P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
• It will also include tabletop exercises, practical demonstrations and scenarios ashore and sea phase.

AUSINDEX15 naval exercise between navies of both countries is held in line with the Framework for Security Co-operation. The framework was announced by the Australian and Indian Prime Ministers in 2014.
The naval exercise seeks to

• Promote peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific region, boost each other’s maritime security interests and strengthen defence co-operation.
• Strengthen relationship between both countries to undertake regional joint or combined operations such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2015