Russia, India set to conduct naval maneuvers in Pacific
Russia and India will conduct joint naval counter-terrorism exercises in the Sea of Japan on April 24-26, the press service of Russia's Pacific Fleet said Tuesday according to RIA Novosti.
INDRA-2007 is a biennial joint exercise between the Russian and Indian navies aimed at practicing cooperative engagement in the fight against terrorism. It is the third such exercise since 2003.
The source said Russia will be represented by two large anti-submarine ships, a missile boat, a diesel submarine, a group of mine-sweepers, a tanker, two tug boats, two Ka-27 Helix helicopters and an Il-38 May maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The Indian naval group will comprise three missile destroyers, a missile corvette and a tanker.
The exercises will include surface live ammunition firing, air defense and anti-submarine warfare maneuvers. The naval groups will also practice operations related to maintaining maritime order and countering piracy, terrorism, and drug smuggling.
Military cooperation between the two nations goes back nearly 50 years, with India accounting for about 40% of Russian arms exports. Eighty percent of India's Armed Forces, the second- largest in the region, are equipped with Russian weaponry.
