India, Britain, France To Practice ASW

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

Four Indian warships will participate in naval exercises with British and French forces in the Atlantic Ocean June 20 to July 4, a senior Indian Navy official said. The war games will include anti-submarine warfare - India's first such exercise against nuclear subs, the Navy official said.India is gearing up to counter Chinese weapons purchases, said defense analyst Mahindra Choudhary, a retired Indian Army brigadier.The Chinese Navy has deployed nuclear submarines in the Indian Ocean, the Navy official said.The Indian Navy is awaiting the delivery of its two nuclear submarines, which were ordered two years ago from Russia, the Navy official said.The British will send the nuclear-powered submarine Trafalgar; two guided missile frigates, Westminster and Lancaster; two auxiliaries, Fort Rosalie and Mounts Bay; Merlin and Lynx helicopters; Falcon and Hawk fighter aircraft; and a Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.French assets will include the nuclear-powered submarine Emeraude, the guided-missile destroyer Primaguet, the guided-missile frigate Lieutenant de Vaisseau le Henaff, Atlantique II maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Lynx helicopters, and Rafale and Super Entendard fighter aircraft.In April 2008, India and Germany first held bilateral naval exercises. In September 2007, Australia, India, Japan and the United States took part in one of the biggest sea exercises ever held in the Bay of Bengal.

Posted in: India,Naval