INS Sahyadri to take part in Kakadu

Visakhapatnam: After having been deployed in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing the Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia, to participate in exercise Kakadau-2018 on Wednesday. 

Exercise Kakadu, which was started in 1993, is the premier multilateral regional maritime engagement exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exercise is held biennially in Darwin and the Northern Australian Exercise Areas (NAXA). 

Exercise Kakadu derives its name from Kakadu National Park, which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin. Kakadu 2018, the 14th edition of the exercise, is scheduled from August 29 to September 15 and would see participation from 23 warships, one submarine, 45 aircraft and 250 marines from 25 different countries.

Indian Navy’s participation in Kakadu-18 provides an excellent opportunity to engage with regional partners and undertake multinational maritime activities ranging from constabulary operations to high-end maritime warfare in a combined environment, aimed at enhancing interoperability and development of a common understanding of procedures for maritime operations. 

During the exercise, professional exchanges in harbour and a diverse range of activities at sea, including complex surface, sub-surface and air operations, would enable sharing of best practices and honing of operational skills. At the helm of INS Sahyadri is Captain Shantanu Jha, who is assisted by a team of professional and highly motivated men of the Indian Navy.  

Participation in Kakadu-18 is a significant milestone in Indian Navy’s efforts towards strengthening mutual confidence among regional navies and is expected to further bolster India’s contribution in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the Eastern Naval Command said in a release.