- The 11th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, a biennial bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy was held in the Bay of Bengal from 04 to 05 September 2020.
- Initiated in 2003, Ex INDRA NAVY epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two Navies.
- This exercise has matured over the years with increase in scope, complexity of operations, and level of participation.
- The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-20 is to further consolidate inter-operability built up by the two Navies over the years and also to enhance understanding and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations.
- The scope of this edition includes wide-ranging and diverse activities across the spectrum of maritime operations.
- Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, INDRA NAVY-20 would be undertaken in a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ format.
- The Indian Navy will be represented by guided missile destroyer Ranvijay, indigenous frigate Sahyadri and fleet tanker Shakti, along with their integral helicopters.
- Sahyadri has been presently redeployed to provide assistance to MT New Diamond, which has caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka.
- The Russian Federation Navy will be represented by destroyer Admiral Vinogradov, destroyer Admiral Tributs and fleet tanker Boris Butoma of the Pacific Fleet, based at Vladivostok.
- The exercise would involve surface and anti-aircraft drills, firing exercises, helicopter operations, seamanship evolutions etc.
- The last edition of the exercise was conducted off Visakhapatnam in December 2018.
