The Indian Navy’s Talwar class stealth frigate INS Tabar has conducted a maritime exercise with the Egyptian Navy’s frigate ENS Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea.
On leaving the port of Alexandria on 5 September, the two frigates carried out the exercise, the Indian Navy said. It involved multiple activities covering a wide range of naval operations. These included drills for transit through asymmetric threat environment, operations for interdicting suspect vessels at sea, communication procedures, joint development of maritime domain picture and replenishment at sea drills. A highlight of the exercise was the cross-deck helicopter operations that involved helicopter recovery procedures and airborne light replenishment drills between the two ships.
“The exercise was significantly beneficial in enhancing interoperability between the two navies and widened the scope for combined operations against common maritime threats in future. The maritime partnership exercise culminated with a ‘Steam Past’ between the two ships, as per naval custom,” the Indian Navy said.
INS Tabar is commanded by Captain Mahesh Mangipudi and has a complement of 300 personnel. The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under Western Naval Command. It is on a four-month deployment across Africa and Europe to participate in joint exercises with friendly navies and enhance military cooperation through naval engagements.
Its previous engagement was with the Algerian Navy and conducted a passage exercise with the Algerian Navy’s Adhafer class stealth corvette ANS Ezzadjer on 29 August.
