Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines are spending more time in the Indian Ocean. To "welcome" them Australia and India are stepping up anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises.
Four Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and one submarine arrived at India’s major naval base East, Visakhapatnam, on April 2, 2019. This was to take part in AUSINDEX-19. From April 7 to 11, 2019 the RAN and Indian forces will mainly participate in ASW exercises in the Bay of Bengal. In a couple of years’ time another AUSINDEX “21” will likely be hosted by Australia.
HMAS Collins drying off before passage to India (Photo courtesy shipspotting).
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The Australian vessels participating are: the landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra (L02); the frigates HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06) and HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154); replenishment oiler HMAS Success (OR 304);and submarine HMAS Collins (SSG 73, launched in 1993).
The Australian aviation element will include MRH-90 Taipan and MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ helicopters on the RAN vessels, along with a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).
The Indian Navy is represented by the: destroyer INS Ranvijay (D55); frigate INS Sahyadri (F49); and corvettes INS Kora (P61) and INS Kiltan (P30). Also participating is the Sindhughosh-Kilo class conventional submarine INS Sindhukirti (S61) (youtube above).
Satellite imagery of a Dornier MPA - spooked by Spitfires.
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Helicopters on the Indian vessels will include Sea King Mk 42B and Chetak. Indian land based aircraft will include Dornier and P-8I “Neptune” MPAs and Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers.
AUSINDEX-19 features the greatest variety and number of Australian and Indian vessels and aircraft/helicopters of the AUSINDEX exercises to date, in order to monitor Chinese submarine activities in the Indian Ocean.Sources include https://defpost.com/royal-australian-navy-ships-submarine-arrive-at-visakhapatnam-india-to-participate-in-exercise-ausindex-19/
Pete