Undaunted Indian Navy completes huge operational readiness exercise

The Indian Navy, brushing aside its problems this week when its chief, Admiral D K Joshi resigned in the wake of the INS Sindhuratna submarine disaster (See: Navy chief Joshi resigns after new submarine disaster), today successfully completed the TROPEX-2014 (See: theatre-level readiness and operational exercise), the largest of its kind exercise in the last two years.

Over 60 ships and submarines and 75 aircraft, both of the Navy and the Indian Air Force, participated in the month-long exercise conducted in the Indian Ocean. India's only nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, and aircraft carrier Viraat were part of the exercise.

TROPEX-2014 was conducted against the backdrop of two completely networked fleets, widely dispersed across the Indian Ocean Region, operating in a dense maritime environment.

This year's exercise also witnessed maiden participation of the recently acquired P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft and also the Hawk fighter trainer aircraft. The indigenous satellite exclusively launched for the Navy last year was also tested and proved.

Besides Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Airborne Early Warning helicopter of the Indian Navy, air-to-air refuellers, Jaguars and SU-30 aircraft of Indian Air Force were also deployed during the exercise.

Admiral D K Joshi resigned as Navy chief on Wednesday, taking moral responsibility for a series of accidents. He quit hours after a fire was reported on the Navy's INS Sindhuratna submarine. Two officers were killed and personnel were injured in the accident.