Ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, viz., Shivalik, Ranvijay and Shakti, under the Command of Rear Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, arrived at Vladivostok recently.

Indian Navy officials were welcomed by the representatives of the Russian Pacific Fleet Command, Diplomatic corps of India and the honour guard with the orchestra of the Pacific Fleet Headquarters on the 33rd pier of Vladivostok ship quay.

The major aims of the visit are strengthening and development of friendly relations between the navies of the two countries and conduct of joint Naval exercise Indra 2014. In the exercise, the Russian Navy will be represented by guided-missile cruiser Varyag, destroyer Bystry, large landing craft Peresvet along with supply vessels. Air assets of the Pacific Fleet and Indian Navy will also be actively involved in the exercise.

The first Indo-Russian bilateral naval exercise was conducted in May 2003 on both the Western and Eastern seaboards of India.

Training and improvement of mutual maritime operations are the main aims of the exercise. The exercise will be spread over six days and will comprise harbour and sea phases. From July 14 to 17, during mooring of the ships at Vladivostok, leadership of the two navies will undertake planning and training for joint operations. The sea phase of the exercise will be held from July 17 to 19 off Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan. During the sea phase, ships of the two countries will engage in tactical manoeuvring, defence against un-alerted raids, cross deck helicopter operations, rendering assistance to a ship in distress, replenishment at sea, joint management of anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare. Joint missile-artillery strikes on surface and air targets are also planned to be conducted during the exercise. The exercise will culminate with a farewell ceremony for IN ships at sea.