INDRA (naval exercise)

INDRA NAVY is a joint, biennial military exercise conducted by India and Russia starting in 2003. The exercise is tasked with boosting cooperation and interoperability between the Russian and Indian navies. The word INDRA is a portmanteau of the participants' respective countries.^[1] The exercise involves live firing drills, as well as air defence and anti submarine operations. Additionally, counterpiracy, terrorism and drug smuggling operations are carried out.^[2]

Background

The end of the Cold War which brought greatly reduced defense budgets saw a collapse in ship building and naval activity in Russia throughout the 1990s. During this time, the Russian navy had no presence in the Indian Ocean. This changed in 2001, when a contingent of naval ships, including anti-submarine warfare vessels and a tanker docked at Mumbai.^[3] In April 2003, nine warships of the Russian navy departed from their bases at Sevastopol in the Black Sea and Vladivostok for the Indian Ocean. These units engaged in a number of exercises with the Indian navy. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov proposed joint naval exercises to be held later that year.

The 12th edition took place in the Volgograd, Russia from 1st to 13th August 2021. An Indian Army contingent from Mechanised Infantry Regiment also took part in the regiment. The contingent from both the nations consisted of 250 personnel each.^[4]

The 13th edition was hosted in Bay of Bengal by India in November 2023. Russia had sent two destroyers from its Pacific Fleet including Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev.^[5]