This edition of AUSINDEX includes complex surface, sub-surface and air operations

The navies of India and Australia are conducting the 4th edition of ASUINDEX maritime exercise from September 6-10 providing an opportunity for both navies to further bolster inter-operability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations.

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt as part of an ongoing overseas deployment in the Indo-Pacific Region are participating in the exercise along with Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac Class Frigate, HMAS Warramunga, informed a statement of the Ministry of Defence.

This edition of AUSINDEX includes complex surface, sub-surface and air operations between ships, submarines, helicopters and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the participating Navies.

The participating Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt are the latest indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively. They form part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.

Earlier, a Task Force of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet comprising of Shivalik and Kadmatt under the Command of Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti, had proceeded on an Overseas Deployment to South East Asia, the South China Sea and Western Pacific from early Aug 2021 for over two months.

The deployment of the task force was aimed at further enhancing military cooperation with friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Commenced in 2015 as a bilateral IN-RAN maritime exercise, AUSINDEX has grown in complexity over the years and the third edition of the exercise, held in 2019 in the Bay of Bengal, included anti-submarine drills for the first time.

In the fourth edition, the surface units of both the countries will be exercising with HMAS Rankin, a Collins Class Australian Submarine, Royal Australian Air Force P-8A and F-18A aircraft, along with integral helicopters of both the Navies.

The exercise is a true representation of Joint Guidance signed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy on August 18.

This important document is aligned to the '2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between the two nations and aims to further consolidate shared commitment to regional and global security challenges promoting peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The conduct of this exercise despite COVID restrictions is also a testimony of existing synergy between the participating Navies.