Indian Navy ships ready for Indra 2019

The Indian Navy ships will take part in Indra 2019, a joint military exercise between India and Russia.

Illustration. Photo: Indian Navy

The tri-services exercise will be conducted simultaneously at Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa in India from December 10 to 19, 2019. It will involve naval, ground and air components.

The Indra series of exercises began in 2003 and the first joint tri-services drill was conducted in 2017.

Company sized mechanized contingents, fighter and transport aircraft as well as ships of the army, air force and navy will participate in this ten-day drill.

The exercise will consist of a five-day training phase comprising a comprehensive training curriculum. This includes tactical operations and drills such as cordon house intervention, handling and neutralization of improvised explosive devices, prevention of arms smuggling through the sea route and anti-piracy measures, according to the Indian Navy.

The training phase will be followed by a 72-hour validation exercise. Indra 2019 will culminate on December 19 with an integrated fire power demonstration and the closing ceremony.