India, Russia to hold joint naval wargames
India and Russia have agreed to hold naval wargames later this year to expand their interaction, a Russian naval spokesman said on Monday.
By PTI |
MOSCOW: India and Russia have agreed to hold naval wargames later this year to expand their interaction, a Russian naval spokesman said on Monday.
"Indian and Russian navies will hold their joint wargames INDRA-2006 later this year to counter terrorism and piracy of sensitive technologies of mass destruction," Captain Igor Dygalo said while briefing on the talks between naval chiefs of the two countries.
Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, who began his week-long Russia visit on Monday, held wide-ranging parleys with his Russian host, Admiral Vladimir Masorin to enhance and expand the interaction of the two friendly navies.
The exact dates and venue of wargames are to be finalised later. Last year the two countries held INDRA-2005 joint anti-terror exercises in Rajasthan and Bay of Bengal off the Vishakhapattanam coast involving paratroopers and naval warships.
Noting that the two countries have traditionally close naval ties, Captain Dygalo said Russia sold its Kiev-class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to New Delhi in January 2004 for $1.5 billion and is currently retrofitting it to meet the Indian Navy's requirements.
After Russia, the Indian Navy has the richest experience in the use of Russian-made Kilo-class diesel-powered attack submarines, the Russian spokesman said.
"Russia and India have also jointly developed the supersonic Brahmos anti-ship cruise missile," he said.
On Wednesday, Admiral Arun Prakash is to leave for St Petersburg and Severodvinsk to review ongoing upgradation work on Admiral Gorshkov, which is expected to join the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya in the autumn of 2008.
The Naval Chief will interact with three Indian naval groups (sailing, maintenance and flying) currently posted at the Sevmash shipyard at Severodvinsk, the harsh Arctic area where days and nights last six months.
"Indian and Russian navies will hold their joint wargames INDRA-2006 later this year to counter terrorism and piracy of sensitive technologies of mass destruction," Captain Igor Dygalo said while briefing on the talks between naval chiefs of the two countries.
Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, who began his week-long Russia visit on Monday, held wide-ranging parleys with his Russian host, Admiral Vladimir Masorin to enhance and expand the interaction of the two friendly navies.
The exact dates and venue of wargames are to be finalised later. Last year the two countries held INDRA-2005 joint anti-terror exercises in Rajasthan and Bay of Bengal off the Vishakhapattanam coast involving paratroopers and naval warships.
Noting that the two countries have traditionally close naval ties, Captain Dygalo said Russia sold its Kiev-class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov to New Delhi in January 2004 for $1.5 billion and is currently retrofitting it to meet the Indian Navy's requirements.
After Russia, the Indian Navy has the richest experience in the use of Russian-made Kilo-class diesel-powered attack submarines, the Russian spokesman said.
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"Russia and India have also jointly developed the supersonic Brahmos anti-ship cruise missile," he said.
On Wednesday, Admiral Arun Prakash is to leave for St Petersburg and Severodvinsk to review ongoing upgradation work on Admiral Gorshkov, which is expected to join the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya in the autumn of 2008.
The Naval Chief will interact with three Indian naval groups (sailing, maintenance and flying) currently posted at the Sevmash shipyard at Severodvinsk, the harsh Arctic area where days and nights last six months.
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