INS Satpura (L) and INS Delhi arriving in Singapore. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: To take part in the inaugural multinational maritime exercise between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India, Indian Navy warships INS Satpura and INS Delhi have reached Singapore, on Monday. The weeklong multinational naval drill, named Asean India Maritime Exercise – 2023 or AIME – 2023, will start from Tuesday and culminate on May 8.
This is the first time India is taking part in such a drill with Asean member countries.
#IndianNavy's warships #INSDelhi & #INSSatpura arrived Singapore for Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME).
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 1, 2023
Apart from promoting friendship & enhancing interoperability, AIME will reinvigorate traditional maritime links.#Bridgesoffriendship#SAGAR@IndiainSingapor pic.twitter.com/WqtmXxtvlh
INS Delhi is the Navy’s lead ship of her class of guided-missile destroyers whereas INS Satpura is a Shivalik-class stealth multirole frigate. The Navy’s Visakhapatnam-headquartered Eastern Fleet flag officer commanding, Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, was on board INS Delhi when it arrived at Singapore’s Changi naval harbour. It may be noted that both INS Shivalik and INS Delhi operate under the Eastern Fleet.
Both warships are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and warfare systems.
In a media release, the Navy said the exercise will have two phases – harbour phase and sea phase. The harbour phase will be conducted at the Changi naval base from May 2 to May 4. The sea phase of the drill will start three days later from May 7 to May 8 in the South China Sea.
It is worth mentioning that several Asean nations have maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its own exclusive territory.
According to the Navy release, AIME – 2023 is intended to provide an opportunity for the Indian and the Asean navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
The Navy also said the Navy’s two warships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition – 2023 (IMDEX – 2023) and International Maritime Security Conference – 2023 (IMSC – 2023), which Singapore is hosting this year.
