This year, Navy to focus on fight against terror

In a break from conventional manoeuvers over the last five years, the Navy will focus on anti-terror exercises this time.Three top-level exe...

In a break from conventional manoeuvers over the last five years, the Navy will focus on anti-terror exercises this time.

Three top-level exercises scheduled over the next three months—with the US, Russia and France—will have the Navy testing indigenously developed methods to destroy terrorist bases, rescue hostages, intercept transport of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and even liberate a country from terrorists.

‘‘The nature of these exercises is undergoing a transformation from conventional to unconventional, from known to unknown. Countries now recognise India as an imperative partner against terror on the high seas,’’ an officer said.

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Next month, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, a destroyer, missile cruiser and Los Angeles-class attack submarine will arrive off the coast of Goa for exercises. The two navies will simulate engagements with ‘‘rogue vessels’’, and work on procedures to deal with biological or chemical threats.

In October, the Russian Navy will arrive with a BDK-11 rapid landing vessel, a Marshal Shaposhnikov-class anti-submarine vessel, a submarine and a Burny-class destroyer for IndRo 2005, a series of exercises in the Bay of Bengal. The two navies will jointly liberate an imaginary third country from a terrorist takeover.

According to Anatoly Mazurkevich, chief, Main Department, International Military Cooperation, Russia, ‘‘The main goal is to practice organisation and interaction in preparing and conducting joint operations between anti-terrorist units of India and the Russian Federation. International terrorism can only be defeated by joint efforts.’’

In November, a pair of the Navy’s Delhi-class guided missile destroyers and support vessels will sail to the Gulf of Aden for exercises with the French Navy. Again, both navies will engage in missions aimed at debilitating renegade vessels and escorting a seized ship, apart from working on protocol issues to deal with such situations.