Indian destroyer, stealth frigate in South China Sea

India is sending a destroyer as well as guided missile stealth frigate to the South China Sea to take part in a first-of-its-kind maritime exercise with the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). The harbour phase of the exercise was initiated at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore on Tuesday, with warships from participating nations scheduled to enter the South China Sea on Sunday.

While India has sent warships to the South China Sea in the past as well, this is the first such naval exercise with the Asean grouping. It may be noted that several Asean nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have maritime disputes with China and have been steadily increasing defence cooperation with India.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar is on an official visit to Singapore. He inaugurated Asean-India Maritime Exercise along with Rear Admiral Sean Wat, chief of Singapore Navy.


India's first indigenously built destroyer INS Delhi and indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate INS Satpura have reached Singapore. The highly capable P8I Maritime Patrol aircraft will also take part in the exercise. The Indian ships are from the eastern fleet based at Visakhapatnam.