India, U.S. Hold Joint Exercises to Build ‘High-caliber Integration’

This was the second U.S.-India naval exercise this year as strategic cooperation flourishes between the two countries. (IANS photo)

By ARUL LOUIS/IANS

NEW YORK – The Indian Navy and Air Force deployed their arsenal of both Russian and Western-made aircraft during the joint exercises centered around the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Indian Ocean to ‘build on the high-caliber integration’ between the two nations, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

“Our nations share a common interest in a secure Indo-Pacific,” Rear Admiral Will Pennington said.

“Working collectively with like-minded nations to provide full spectrum awareness and defense of the vast Indian Ocean expanse ensures stability in the region,” Pennington added.

The joint drill was held June 23 and June 24, when the USS Ronald Reagan, which is based in Japan, was on its way to the North Arabian Sea in preparation for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. After that, the U.S. Navy held a separate exercise in the region with Sri Lanka and Japan, PACOM said.

The India-U.S. exercises that “reinforced the converging maritime interests” of the U.S. and India followed last month’s meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Pentagon during India’s first cabinet-level visit to Washington after President Joe Biden took office, the PACOM said.

The Indian Defense Ministry said June 25, “The exercise has been a key enabler in building interoperability and strengthening the defense coordination between the two nations and witnessed high tempo-naval operations at sea.”

“The exercise has been another milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two countries and reinforcing the shared values as partner militaries, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order,” the ministry said.

Echoing the sentiment, PACOM said, “Integration of Indian forces sharpen the regional maritime security construct to uphold a rules-based maritime order in the Indian Ocean region.”

The Indian Defense Ministry said the exercises included “intense air dominance exercises, advanced air defense exercises, anti-submarine exercises, tactical maneuvers and cross-deck helicopter operations.”

PACOM added that aerial exercises like dissimilar aircraft combat training, detect-to-engage sequence and formation maneuvering were are also part of the exercises.

The Defense Ministry said that guided-missile stealth destroyer INS Kochi, guided missile frigate INS Teg, maritime air dominance fighter MiG 29K, long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I, and Seaking 42B and Kamov AEW helicopters from the Navy, and Jaguars and Su 30 MKI fighters, airborne early warning and control aircraft, and air-to-air refueller aircraft from the Air Force were deployed in the exercise.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group known as CSG 5 that participated in the exercise deployed the U.S. guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, as well as aircraft from its Carrier Air Wing, according to PACOM.

The Defense Ministry, detailing the U.S. aircraft in the exercise, said they included F18 fighters, E2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne early warning and control aircraft, and Sikorsky MH60R Seahawk helicopters.

The U.S. Naval Institute News reported June 25 that the USS Ronald Reagan was in the North Arabian Sea to support the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

This was the second U.S.-India naval exercise this year as strategic cooperation flourishes between the two countries.

US Navy’s USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group had held exercises with the Indian Navy and Air Force in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region in March. It followed Austin’s visit to India, the first cabinet-level trip in Biden’s administration.