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INDIAN WARSHIPS VISIT TO HAIFA

As part of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and the West Coast of Africa, three Indian warships, INS Mumbai (guided missile destroyer), Trishul (stealth missile frigate), and Aditya (replenishment tanker), arrived at Haifa on 09 May 17 for a three-day visit. The warships will engage extensively with the Israeli Navy during their stay in the country. Apart from professional interactions, a number of sports and social engagements are also planned, which would go a long way in enhancing co-operation and understanding between these two important and capable navies.

The visiting ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command and are based in Mumbai. The Task Group is headed by Rear Admiral RB Pandit, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, who is flying his flag on the guided missile destroyer, INS Mumbai.

Relations between Israel and India have always been warm. Bilateral trade and economic relations have progressed rapidly in the past two decades and has shown a dramatic increase in the last year alone. India and Israel have developed strong bonds in several spheres and MoUs in diverse areas of co-operation exist between the two nations. The India Israel Defence Partnership dates back 67 years and the professionalism and commitment displayed by Israeli firms is further strengthening this bond. The latest JV of Surface to Air Missile project is also a significant manifestation of this partnership. The current visit seeks to underscore India’s peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries and, in particular, to strengthen the existing friendship between India and Israel.

Over the last few decades India has made substantial advances in terms of designing and building warships indigenously and the visiting ships bear testimony to these capabilities. IN Ships Mumbai  and Aditya have been designed by the design bureau of the Indian Navy and constructed at Indian shipyards, namely, the Mazagon Dockyard Limited (in Mumbai), and, the Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Limited (in Kolkata) respectively. The destroyer, INS Mumbai, and the frigate, INS Trishul, are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors.

Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the main maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia. In addition, Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with Hydrographic Survey, Search and Rescue and other such capacity-building and capability-enhancement activities. The current deployment into the Mediterranean will contribute towards the Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate Inter Operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the seas.