Aircraft carriers in Indo-US exercise

‘‘This will be the most advanced exercise in terms of assets committed,’’ said Rear Admiral D K Joshi, assistant chief in-charge of Information Warfare and Operations.

After this, the Indian group, comprising five vessels, will enter an ‘‘aviation interoperability phase’’ for three days, where American F/A-18 Hornets will be fielded against Viraat’s deck-based Sea Harriers.

The two groups will also engage in counter-terrorism, anti-submarine warfare, cross-deck chopper operations and opposed replenishment (in which the re-tanking of a ship mid-sea will be ‘‘protected’’ in a multi-threat environment).

The focus on getting to know each other’s air assets is clear. The US Navy will field its P-3 Orions and a fleet of SH-60 Seahawk multirole choppers and deck-based E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and command/control aircraft.

Forces for Pacific island

The Navy, for the first time, will send a team of special forces divers to the Pacific island of Guam in January next year for a short joint exercise with the US Navy. While conventional Naval forces are yet to travel to the US shores for joint exercises, the idea is being discussed by the two sides.