Indian Navy’s final Kolkata-class destroyer INS Chennai fired the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile during the fleet-wide theatre level readiness and operational exercise (TROPEX).
The 30-day drill started on January 24 and involves ships and aircraft of both the Western and Eastern Naval Commands, including assets from the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard.
In addition to the BrahMos firing, exercises conducted so far included gunnery shoots and surface to air missile engagements.
The high-point of the exercise was large force engagement (LFE) by the fleet units against threat simulated by air element from Indian Air Force comprising AWACS, SU 30s, Jaguars and IL 78 (AAR). These threats emanated from different directions and were neutralised by using beyond visual range (BVR) missile capabilities of MiG 29Ks, the integral air arm of the Indian Navy, operating from INS Vikramaditya in coordination with other fleet units.
The area of operations for TROPEX 2017 spans across the Arabian Sea and North Central Indian Ocean and serves as an opportunity to validate the Indian Navy’s concepts of operation.
As a part of the exercise, niche capabilities of the Marine Commandoes (MARCOs) and Army Special Forces, including Airborne Assault and Combat Free Fall were undertaken from IAF C-130 aircraft. Naval forces, while enforcing sea and airspace control all around the affected islands, undertook beaching and heli-borne operations for landing of follow-on forces. The exercise culminated with restoration of sovereign control over the affected islands, by the Armed Forces. During debrief of the exercise, CNS and COAS discussed various options to further enhance the effectiveness of the joint exercise.