INDRA (naval exercise)
{{Short description|Indian/Russian naval exercise}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
File:Naval flotilla, INDRA exercises (2007).jpg
INDRA NAVY is a joint, biennial military exercise conducted by India and Russia starting in 2003. The exercise is tasked with boosting cooperation and interoperability between the Russian and Indian navies. The word INDRA is a portmanteau of the participants' respective countries.[http://indiannavy.nic.in Indian Navy – Welcome you] The exercise involves live firing drills, as well as air defence and anti submarine operations. Additionally, counterpiracy, terrorism and drug smuggling operations are carried out.{{cite web|url=http://www.vladivostoktimes.com/|title=Vladivostok Times|website=www.vladivostoktimes.com|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202154626/http://vladivostoktimes.com/|archive-date=2 February 2011|url-status=dead}}
Background
The end of the Cold War which brought greatly reduced defense budgets saw a collapse in ship building and naval activity in Russia throughout the 1990s. During this time, the Russian navy had no presence in the Indian Ocean. This changed in 2001, when a contingent of naval ships, including anti-submarine warfare vessels and a tanker docked at Mumbai.{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/whatsNewArticle11.jsp?action=showView&kValue=1867&status=article&mod=b|title=IPCS - Institute Of Peace & Conflict Studies|website=www.ipcs.org}} In April 2003, nine warships of the Russian navy departed from their bases at Sevastopol in the Black Sea and Vladivostok for the Indian Ocean. These units engaged in a number of exercises with the Indian navy. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov proposed joint naval exercises to be held later that year.
The 8th edition was hosted by the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy in 2015 and included the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam from 7 to 9 December and the Sea Phase from 10 to 12 December in the Bay of Bengal. The naval ships deployed in tye Indra Navy-15 included destroyer {{INS|Ranvijay}}, frigate {{INS|Sahyadri}}, submarine {{INS|Sindhuvir|S58|6}} and fleet support ship {{INS|Shakti}} from the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy and missile cruiser Varyag, destroyer Bystry, rescue ocean going tug Alatau and fleet tanker Boris Butoma of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2015-12-07 |title=Indra Navy-2015: Russia, India Naval Exercise From Today |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2015/Dec/07/indra-navy-2015-russia-india-naval-exercise-from-today-852638.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214165457/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Indra-Navy-2015-Russia-India-Naval-Exercise-From-Today/2015/12/07/article3165229.ece |archive-date=2015-12-14 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}
The 12th edition took place in the Volgograd, Russia from 1st to 13th August 2021. An Indian Army contingent from Mechanised Infantry Regiment also took part in the regiment. The contingent from both the nations consisted of 250 personnel each.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=EXERCISE INDRA-21 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1739351 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Press Information Bureau}}
The 13th edition was hosted in Bay of Bengal by India in November 2023. Russia had sent two destroyers from its Pacific Fleet including Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev.{{Cite web |last=Deshpande |first=Smruti |date=2023-11-22 |title=India holds maritime exercise with Russia, land exercise with US |url=https://theprint.in/defence/india-holds-maritime-exercise-with-russia-land-exercise-with-us/1855074/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}
The 14th edition of the exercise was hosted off the coast of Chennai, India from 28 March to 2 April 2025 and included the Harbour phase (28 to 30 March) in Chennai and the Sea Phase (31 March to 2 April) in Bay of Bengal. The Russian Navy sent ships from its Pacific Fleet including Pechanga ({{Sclass|Dubna|tanker|4}}), Rezkiy ({{Sclass|Steregushchiy|corvette|4}}), Aldar Tsydenzhapov ({{Sclass|Steregushchiy|corvette|4}}). Meanwhile, the Indian Navy deployed {{INS|Rana|D52}}, {{INS|Kuthar|P46}} and one Boeing P-8I Neptune.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-28 |title=INDIAN AND RUSSIAN NAVIES SET FOR THE 14th EDITION OF MARITIME BILATERAL EXERCISE – INDRA 2025 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2116181 |access-date=2024-04-02 |work=Press Information Bureau}}{{Cite news |date=2025-04-04 |title=BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE INDRA-2025 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2119037 |access-date=2024-04-06 |work=Press Information Bureau}}{{Cite news |date=2025-03-28 |title=India, Russia kick-start 6-day naval exercise |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-russia-kick-start-6-day-naval-exercise/articleshow/119666406.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-04-12 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}
Image gallery
File:Exercise INDRA 2014 warships.jpg|Naval maneuvers during Exercise INDRA 14
File:Ka-28 Indian Navy.jpg|An Indian Navy Ka-28 Helix helicopter during INDRA 07
File:Dubhna.jpg|Naval ship of the IN during INDRA 07
File:Joint Indian & Russian VBSS Team INDRA 14.jpg|Joint Indian & Russian boarding team during Exercise INDRA 2014
See also
References
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External links
{{commonscat|INDRA NAVY}}
- [http://indiannavy.nic.in/ Official web site]
- [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/ Bharat Rakshak - Informative web site]
- [http://www.india-defence.com/India Defence - Informative web site]
- [http://www.domain-b.com Domain B online business magazine]
Category:Military exercises involving Russia
Category:Indian naval exercises
Category:India–Russia relations
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