Chinese warships are being observed by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal during the combined India-US “Tiger Triumph” disaster relief drill

Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, said that the Indian Navy is keeping an eye on Chinese research boats as they go through the Bay of Bengal.

Just a few days before India was scheduled to conduct missile tests off its eastern coast at the beginning of this month, the Vice-Admiral was answering a question about the purported actions of Chinese research boats in the Bay of Bengal.

Chinese research boats were sometimes seen in the Bay of Bengal. We keep an eye on their movements and goings-on around us. “We ensure that they stay out of Indian waters,” he said.

On the fringes of the bilateral tri-service amphibious exercise between the US and India for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), Tiger Triumph 2024, on board INS Jalashwa on Tuesday, Rajesh Pendharkar and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti addressed the media.

Tiger Triumph is a drill designed to evaluate their collective reaction and preparation for natural calamities, according to Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar. To lessen the effects of pandemics and natural catastrophes, forces have united to develop coordinated responses. Relief for disasters and mariners is the exercise’s goal.

“Its goal is to combine the efforts of the US and Indian navies by exchanging best practices and learning from one another to develop an improved response system,” he said.

 

“The Tiger Triumph exercise, which is conducted in two phases, aims to share best practices and standard operating procedures in undertaking multinational HADR operations and represents the robust strategic partnership between both countries,” the statement reads.

The harbor phase of the exercise is slated to take place at Visakhapatnam from March 18 to 25. It will include pre-sail talks, professional subject matter expert exchanges, and discussions on job planning and execution methods.

To strengthen the solidarity amongst the participating military services members of both countries, friendly sporting activities are also planned.

Units from both nations would set up a cooperative command and control center as well as joint relief and medical camps during the sea phase, which would last from March 26 to March 31.

Concurrent planning and coordination exercises would be conducted to discuss and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to facilitate quick and easy cooperation between the two nations’ military.

A landing platform dock, huge landing ship tanks with integrated landing boats and helicopters, guided missile frigate, and long-range maritime surveillance aircraft are among the Indian Navy forces taking part in the exercise. Including mechanized troops, one infantry battalion group would constitute the Indian Army. The Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT), transport helicopters, and medium lift aircraft would all be used by the Indian Air Force.

Furthermore, all three services’ Special Operations Forces will take part in the drill. A destroyer, medium lift and maritime reconnaissance planes, US marines, and a US Navy landing platform dock with integrated landing craft air cushions and helicopters would all be part of the US Task Force. Up to 3000 US and Indian soldiers are taking part in the drill.

According to Ambassador Eric Garcetti, there is more cooperation between the two powerful countries for peace and prosperity, strengthening their already strong relationship.

According to him, the two countries have joined forces to support those who lack the wherewithal to deal with natural catastrophes and conflicts.

In attendance were Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankar, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Rear Admiral Joaquin J. Martinez de Pinillos, Reserve Vice Commander US Seventh Fleet, Captain Michel C. Brandt, Commanding Officer USS Somerset, and Captain Sandeep Biswal, Commanding Officer INS Jalashwa.