India-Australia two-day Naval Exercise in the Indian Ocean- Key Facts and Significance
Indian Navy and the Australia navy will be conducting a two-days mega naval exercise in the Indian Ocean commencing from September 23, 2020. This will include various anti-aircraft drills, complex naval maneuvers, and helicopter operations.
India-Australia Naval Exercise
- The exercise involve advanced surface and anti-air exercises.
- It also include seamanship exercises, weapon firings, cross-deck flying operations, and naval manoeuvers.
- HMAS Hobart will be deployed in the exercise by the Royal Australian Navy. It is a lead-ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.
- From Indian side, Karmuk and Sahyadri ships will be a part of the exercise.
Significance
- The naval exercise aims to improve the understanding, enhancing the interoperability, and sharing the best practices from each other.
- Earlier, Indian Navy conducted similar exercises with Japan, Russia and The US.
- This is the fourth major drill by the Indian Navy since June 2020 in the Indian Ocean.
- The exercise can be seen as counter to the India’s rising border tension with China and presence of Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean Region.
- It is a step towards strengthening the Indo-Australia Defence Relations.
- This will bring both the governments to work closely in order to enhance the safety and security of the global commons.
Recent Exercises in the Indian Ocean Region
- In June 2020, Naval exercise was conducted between Indian Navy and the Japanese Navy (Japan Maritime Self Defense Force).
- In July 2020, Indian Navy conducted a military exercise with US Navy carrier strike group. It was led by the Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (world’s largest warship) along the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- In September 2020, Indian and Russia Navies carried out an exercise in the Bay of Bengal.