Kochi, Oct 06: The biggest ever Indo-US bilateral naval exercises, in which a nuclear submarine from the US Navy's seventh fleet and an Indian submarine are participating, commenced in the Arabian Sea off Kerala coast this morning in damp weather conditions. Besides the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752), Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser, USS Chosin (CG 65), the Arleigh burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and the auxiliary ship SS Chesapeake are participating in the exercises, fifth in the Malabar series of exercises, which would conclude on Wednesday. P-3C patrol and reconnaissance aircraft of the US Navy has also reached Kochi for the exercises.

Matching the us participation, the Indian Navy's two guided missile frigates-- INS Brahmaputra and INS Ganga, and a submarine INS Shalki and a tanker INS Shakti and a variety of integral and shore based aircraft's would showcase the Indian Navy's prowess, naval sources said. A variety of exercises of anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare will be held during the three days. Atleast 1500 Indian and US Naval personnel are participating in the exercises.

With the threat of terrorism looming large both on land and sea, the exercise expectedly would focus on 'VBSS'-- visit, board search and seizure operations. Maritime interdiction operations and sea control operations would also be held to exercise the ability to control certain areas of the sea for limited duration by friendly forces, the sources

Bureau Report