Kochi, Oct 08: The three-day biggest ever Indo-Us bilateral naval exercises off the Kerala coast, in which a nuclear submarine from the US Navy's seventh fleet participated for the first time, concluded this evening. A variety of exercises of anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface warfare were held during the exercises, which began on October 6. Besides the Los Angeles class nuclear submarine USS Pasadena, two guided missile cruisers -- USS Chosin and USS Fitzgerald, an auxilary ship SS Chesapeake and P-3C patrol and reconnaissance aircraft of the us navy participated in the exercises. On the Indian side, two guided missile frigates -- INS Brahmaputra an INS Ganga, a submarine INS Shalki, a tanker INS Shakti and a variety of integral and shore based aircrafts took part.
Media personnel who were taken aboard the Indian naval vessel early this morning, saw USS Chosin and USS Fitzgerald and INS Brahmaputra, INS Ganga and INS Shalki lined up in arrow formation.
Captain Hari Nair of INS Ganga told reporters that the exercises will enhance the operation capability of the two navies.

Bureau Report