IN A 1ST, INDIAN SUB DOCKS IN INDONESIA AMID SCS CONFLICT

As Part Of The Military Outreach To Asean Nations
An Indian submarine has, for the first time ever, docked in Indonesia, which is among the countries locked in a maritime dispute with China in the contentious South China Sea, as part of the continuing overall diplomatic-military outreach to Asean countries.
The 3,000-tonne diesel electric submarine, INS Sindhukesari, reached Jakarta for the ‘maiden operational turnaround’ after transiting through the Sunda Strait.
“Indian warships often visit Indonesia and other Asean countries.
This first long-range deployment of a submarine underlines the operational capability and reach of the country’s underwater combat arm as well.
INS Sindhukesari had undergone a major 1,197-crore ‘medium refit-cum-life extension’ at Severodvinsk in Russia that ended in 2018, as part of the ongoing plan to upgrade four old Sindhughosh-class (Russian-origin Kiloclass) and two Shishkumar-class (German HDW) submarines to stem depletion in the underwater fleet.
India will supply three missile batteries of the shore based anti-ship systems of the BrahMos, a deadly conventional (non-nuclear) weapon that flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2. 8 with a strike range of 290-km, under the $375 million contract inked in January last year.
The first such BrahMos export order to Philippines is expected to pave the way for such deals with other Asean countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

Post Views: 36