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INS Airavat reaches Brunei for multination exercise

Last Updated 01 May 2016, 19:21 IST

Indian Navy ship INS Airavat will participate in a multinational naval exercise in the South China Sea later this week.

The warship INS Airavat arrived in Brunei on Sunday for the mock drill, conducted by the ASEAN countries. The exercise will commence in Brunei and culminate in Singapore with various drills and exercises in the South China Sea.

USA, Japan and China too would take part in the exercise that would witness participation from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, Australia and South Korea.

Interestingly, INS Airavat is the same warship that was harassed by the Chinese Navy in 2011 when it was sailing to Vietnam for a port call. In July 2011, when INS Airavat sailed from Nha Trang port in south central Vietnam towards Haiphong, the ship received an unusual radio message in which the caller identified himself from the Chinese navy and asked the Indian ship to move out of Chinese waters.INS Airavat did not respond to the message and continued its way. Later, the Ministry of External Affairs criticised Beijing in a statement, saying “India supports freedom of navigation in international waters, including in the South China Sea, and the right of passage in accordance with accepted principles of international law.”

Commanded by Commander Jayant Mahadik, INS Airavat is an indigenous Landing Ship Tank (large) that can carry 500 troops, 10 tanks, 11 combat trucks and a helicopter for amphibious operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. “The participation of INS Airavat aims to bolster India’s ties and enhance inter-operability with the participating navies,” said a Navy spokesperson.

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(Published 01 May 2016, 19:21 IST)

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