INDRA naval exercises

INDRA is a joint, bi-annual 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.

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.

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.

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.

Image gallery

• Naval flotilla, INDRA exercises (2007).jpg

  Naval Flotilla during INDRA 07

• Seaking1.jpg

  Naval Helicopter of INS during INDRA 07

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  Naval Helicopter of INS during INDRA 07

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  Naval Helicopter of INS during INDRA 07

• Exercise INDRA 2014 warships.jpg

  Naval Maneuvers during Exercise INDRA 14

• Joint Indian & Russian VBSS Team INDRA 14.jpg

  Joint Indian & Russian VBSS Team During Exercise INDRA 2014

External links

• Official web site
• Bharat Rakshak - Informative web site
• Defence - Informative web site
• Domain B online business magazine