INDIA. Mumbai: Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt reached Guam, an Island Territory of the USA as part of their ongoing deployment to nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Ocean, on Saturday.
The two ships are scheduled to participate in the annual Exercise MALABAR-21, between the navies of Australia, India, Japan, and the USA. MALABAR series of maritime exercises commenced in 1992 as a bilateral IN-USN exercise and has grown in stature over the years to include four prominent navies in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
As part of the Exercise, Vice Admiral AB Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command will have operational discussions with Rear Admiral Leonard C. “Butch” Dollaga, Commander CTF-74 focussing on developing an action plan and coordinated operations in the maritime domain. Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti would be embarked onboard INS Shivalik during the conduct of Sea Phase commencing on August 26.
Exercise MALABAR-21 will be conducted with USN, JMSDF, and RAN at sea from August 26 to August 29. The exercise will provide an opportunity for common-minded navies to enhance inter-operability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations.
MALABAR-21 would witness high-tempo exercises conducted between Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes, Submarines, Helicopters, and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the participating navies. Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations including Live Weapon Firing Drills, Anti-Surface, Anti-Air, and Anti-Submarine Warfare Drills, Joint Manoeuvres, and Tactical exercises will be conducted during the exercise. The conduct of these exercises despite COVID restrictions is a testimony of synergy between the participating navies and commitment to safer seas.
The participating Indian Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt are the latest indigenously designed and built, multi-role Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively, and form part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, Eastern Naval Command. INS Shivalik is commanded by Captain Kapil Mehta whilst INS Kadmatt is commanded by Commander RK Maharana. The two ships are equipped with a versatile array of weapons and sensors, can carry multi-role helicopters, and represent the growth of India’s warship-building capabilities.
Mini-Marathon to mark 50th-anniversary of Indo-Pak war
In another development, a mini-marathon was held from Nariman Point to Colaba in South Mumbai to mark the 50th-anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, also known as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’, on Sunday.
The run was held from Nariman point to RC Church in Colaba. Lt Gen SK Prashar, AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa Area presided over the event which was flagged in at Colaba Military Station.
The Mini Marathon started in the early morning hours from the picturesque Nariman Point covering a distance of over 10 Km. The event reignited a deep sense of patriotism amongst participants which were evident from the zeal and enthusiasm with which they took part in the ‘Run for Fun’.
Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on December 16 to mark India’s triumph in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan in the year 1971. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lit the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ at the National War Memorial on last year’s Vijay Diwas on December 16, 2020, to mark the year-long 50th-anniversary celebration of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
