Navy gets Centre's go-ahead for international fleet review

NEW DELHI: The central government has given the Navy the go-ahead to hold an international fleet review in 2016, after a gap of 15 years, in which more than 50 countries are expected to participate.

The last international fleet review was held in 2001 in Mumbai under the Western Command but this time it will be held in Vishakhapatnam under the Eastern Navy, Navy sources said here.

More than 100 ships from more than 50 countries are likely to take part in the event to be held in 2016, they said.

China may also be extended an invitation for the event, the sources said.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and international military leaders are expected to attend the fleet review, they said.

In the International Fleet Review 2001 held in Mumbai, more than 60 ships from over 22 nations including the US, the UK, Japan and Australia had participated. Naval officials are expecting the participation of more maritime nations during the latest international fleet review in the Bay of Bengal.