NEW DELHI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- India will from Wednesday embark on a joint naval exercise with Russia in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Navy has said.
The eight-day exercise, called Indra Navy-16, will encompass two phases -- the Harbour Phase from December 14 to 18 at the port city of Visakhapatnam in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the Sea Phase from December 19 to 21 off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
"The primary aim of Indra Navy-16 is to increase inter-operability between the two navies and develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations," the Indian Navy said in an official release Tuesday.
It added: "The scope of the exercise includes wide-ranging professional interactions in harbour phase and a diverse canvas of operational activities across a spectrum of maritime operations at sea. The exercise has matured over the years...," it added.
While the Indian Navy will be represented by INS Ranvir, a guided-missile destroyer, INS Satpura, an indigenous frigate, INS Kamorta, an indigenous anti-submarine warfare corvette, and a submarine, the Russian Navy will be represented by ships from the Vladivostok-based Pacific Fleet.
