Visakhapatnam: In consonance with India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and Indian Navy’s constant endeavour to enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat reached Brunei on Sunday. The ship will participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism (Ex MS & CT) from May 1 to 9.
The Indian Navy has been a regular participant in maritime exercises conducted by the ADMM countries. ADMM Plus Ex MS & CT is a multinational exercise under the aegis of ADMM Plus consortium. The current edition will commence at Brunei and culminate at Singapore, with various drills and exercises in the South China Sea.
During the exercise, the Indian Navy would engage with participating navies from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, Republic of Korea and US, through professional interactions in harbour and complex operations at sea.
India has deep historic and cultural linkages with ASEAN countries which have been strengthened in the recent past by vibrant economic engagement and a growing sense of shared maritime destiny.The establishment of the Indian Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta serves as a testimony of India’s commitment towards ASEAN.
Indian Navy and the navies of ASEAN countries have a mutual interest in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, given the shared maritime security interests. ADMM Plus Ex MS & CT is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding with respect to maritime security issues and streamlining drills on counter-terrorism operations at sea.
The participation of INS Airavat aims to bolster India’s ties and enhance inter-operability with the participating navies. INS Airavat, commanded by Commander Jayant Mahadik, is a landing ship tank (large), indigenously designed and built at GRSE, Kolkata.
The ship was inducted into the Indian Navy on 19 May, 2009 and has a lift capability of 500 troops, 10 tanks and 11 combat trucks, which allows her to be effectively tasked for a variety of missions ranging from amphibious operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). An integral helicopter significantly enhances the capability of the ship.
