INDIAN. Mumbai: The Indian Naval Ship Tabar reached St Petersburg on Thursday as a part of a five-day goodwill visit to Russia to participate in the 325th Navy Day celebrations of the Russian Navy to be held on July 25, Sunday.
During the Russian Navy Day Parade, INS Tabar will join the column of ships that will be reviewed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The Indian Naval Band embarked on Tabar will also participate in the City Parade during the celebrations. In addition, during her stay at St Petersburg, the crew of Tabar will participate in various bilateral professional interactions with the Russian Navy.
This will be followed by naval exercises at sea between the two navies. This will be part of the established series of naval exercises between the Indian Navy and the Russian Navy titled exercise INDRA. The harbour interactions and the exercise at sea aim to consolidate the long-standing ties between the two navies. These engagements seek to further enhance maritime security and conduct combined operations against maritime threats. These interactions will also offer an opportunity for both sides to observe and imbibe the ‘Best Practices’ followed in each other’s, a Defence spokesman Commander Mehul Karnik said.
A grand reception was accorded to INS Tabar by the Russian Naval band. (Photo credit: Indian Navy)
India and Russia share special bilateral relations that span several decades. These include close military ties and strong co-corporation between the two navies. The drills and several rounds of talks at various levels are taking place ahead of the first-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year as well as the annual summit of two countries.
Incidentally, the INS Tabar ship was built for the Indian Navy in Russia and was commissioned at St Petersburg in April 2004. She is a Talwar-class stealth frigate and forms part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. The ship is presently commanded by Capt Mahesh Mangipudi and has a complement of over 300 personnel. The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
The ship is presently commanded by Capt Mahesh Mangipudi and has a complement of over 300 personnel. The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
