Indian Navy Yearly Review 2021 Defence Current Affairs And Updates [Download PDF]

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January 7, 2022
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INDIAN NAVY YEARLY REVIEW 2021

Operational Deployment- Mission-Based Deployments

Indian Navy undertook Mission-Based Deployments in Areas of Interest in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to safeguard national maritime interests and maintain continuous/near-continuous presence in areas of significant maritime importance in the IOR.
These deployments were in consonance with Hon’ble PM’s vision of ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.
IN ships and aircraft were regularly deployed in the Gulf of Oman/Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden/Red Sea, South, & Central IOR, off Sunda Strait, the Andaman Sea/approaches to Malacca Strait, and Northern Bay of Bengal.
These deployments facilitated enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness, swift Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to IOR littorals, security to Indian and international maritime community, & operational engagements with friendly navies.

Operation SANKALP

Amidst the increasing US-Iran tensions in the Gulf region, since Jun 19, IN has been undertaking Maritime Security Operation code-named Op SANKALP in the Gulf Region to ensure safe passage of Indian Flag Merchant Vessels (IFMVs) transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Since execution, IN has deployed 27 warships and escorted approximately 305 Lakh Tonnes of cargo onboard 375 IFMVs, thereby providing a sense of reassurance to our seafarers, and protecting Indian-owned hulls and the trade embarked on them.

Operation Samudra Setu II

At the end of Apr 21, IN launched Operation Samudra Setu-II to augment the national mission for meeting medical oxygen requirements. Accordingly, ten IN warships were deployed for nearly two months and traversed more than 53000 nm (nearly 100,000 km) as part of Samudra Setu-II.

Operation Samudra Setu II

These ships transshipped 1150 Metric Tons of Liquid Medical Oxygen and 319.40 KL Oxygen in cylinders along with other medical aid {23 Empty Oxygen containers (20 MT) and other critical medical aid like Oxygen concentrators (173), Rapid Antigen Detection (RAD) Test Kits (10,000), PPEs (450) and Ventilators (140)}.

Cooperation With Armies of Friendly Countries Oxygen Express

INS Sharda and a hired Multi-Purpose Vessel, MPV Meghna from the Southern Naval Command were deployed as part of IN’s initiative ‘Oxygen Express’ in Apr 21, to maintain supply of oxygen cylinders to island territories of Lakshadweep & Minicoy islands during the peak of COVID pandemic.

Mission SAGAR

In response to requests from Friendly Foreign Countries and maritime neighbors, the Indian Navy undertook transshipment of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and other medical equipment onboard IN Ships to five nations in IOR and the South China Sea (SCS), under the overall ambit of Mission SAGAR.

Long Range Operational Deployments

IN Ships Ranvijay, Kora, Shivalik, and Kadmatt were deployed on Long-Range Operational deployment to Southeast Asia and Western Pacific countries from August–October 2021. IN Ship Tabar was deployed for Long Range Operational deployment to Western Europe and Arctic countries to participate in Russian Navy Day Celebrations and conduct bi-lateral exercises with Royal Navy and Russian Navy from June–September 2021.
IN Ships Kochi and Trikand were deployed on Long-Range Operational deployment to the Gulf region for the conduct of bilateral exercises with regional navies in August 2021. The ships of the first training Squadron were deployed for Long Range training deployment to Southern IOR countries viz Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar in March 2021 and Sri Lanka in October 2021.

Exercises with Foreign Navies

NAVDEX-21

IN Ships Pralaya and Mysore participated at NAVDEX- 21 from 20-25 Feb 21, at Abu Dhabi, UAE. This was the first time that two IN ships attended NAVDEX. Participation by Indian Defence OEMs and Shipyards included GRSE, MDL, GSL, BDL, DRDO, BRAMHOS, etc. GRSE was the nodal agency for coordination and setting up of the India Pavilion during NAVDEX-21.

Ex LAPEROUSE

IN participated in multilateral Ex-Laperouse from April 05 – 07, 2021, in the Bay of Bengal with French, Australian, Japan, & US Navies. IN ships Satpura, Kiltan, and IN aircraft P8I along with French Navy (FN) ships Tonnerre and Surcouf, US Navy (USN) ship Somerset, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ship Akebono & Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships Anzac and Sirius participated in the exercise.

IN-European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Ex

The maiden IN- EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise was conducted in the Gulf of Aden from June 18 – 19, 2021. IN ship Trikand along with four warships from three other navies participated in the exercise (Italian Navy Ship ITS Carabinere, Spanish Navy Ship ESPS Navarra, and two French Navy Ships Tonnerre and Surcouf).

INDRA Navy 2021

IN and Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) Bilateral exercise INDRA Navy was conducted in the Baltic Sea from July 28 – 29, 2021. RuFN ships Zelyony Dol, Odintsovo, & IN ship Tabar participated in the exercise.

Konkan 2021

IN and Royal Navy (RN) bilateral exercise Konkan was conducted at/ off Portsmouth, UK from August 12 – 17, 2021. RN ship HMS Westminster and IN Ship Tabar participated in the exercise.

Malabar 2021

Multi-lateral exercise between IN, USN, JMSDF and RAN ships was conducted in two phases from August 26 – 29, 2021 in the Philippines Sea and October 12 – 15, 2021 in the Southern Bay of Bengal.

Cutlass Express

IN Ship Talwar participated in Exercise Cutlass Express 2021 at Mombasa, Kenya from 26 July – 07 August 2021 conducted by US AFRICOM. 15 countries and five International organisations participated in the exercise. VBSS training of personnel from Kenya, Djibouti, Mozambique, Cameroon, and Georgia was conducted onboard Talwar during the exercise.

SIMBEX 2021

IN and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Bilateral exercise SIMBEX 2021 was conducted in the SCS from September 2 – 4, 2021. RSN ship Steadfast, Vigor and Archer class submarine along with IN Ships Ranvijay, Kora, Kiltan and IN aircraft P8I participated in the exercise.

Samudra Shakti 2021

IN and Indonesian Navy (IDN) Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti was conducted at/ off Jakarta, Indonesia from September 21 – 22, 2021. IDN Ships KRI Bung Tomo, Malahayati, and aircraft CN-235 and IN Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt participated in the exercise.

Konkan Shakti 2021

Maiden Exercise Konkan Shakti, between India and the United Kingdom Armed forces (Tri-Services Exercise), was conducted in the Arabian Sea from October 21 – 27, 2021.
IN ships Kochi, Chennai, Kolkata, Teg, Talwar, IN aircraft P8I and MiG 29K along with United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group comprising Royal Navy Ships HMS Queen Elizabeth, Defender, Richmond and Auxiliary ship Fort Victoria participated in the exercise.

India-Singapore-Thailand Trilateral Exercise (SITMEX)

The 3rd SITMEX hosted by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was held from November 15-16, 2021, off the Andaman Sea.

Transportation of COVID Vaccines

A P-8I was deployed to Port Louis on January 22, 2021, to transport one lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines, gifted by GoI. On January 23, 2021, one P-8I was deployed to Seychelles to transport 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, gifted by the GoI.

Assistance to Foreign Governments

5th India – Singapore Defence Minsters’ Dialogue

The 5th edition of Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held though VC on January 20, 2021. The Raksha Mantri of India and Minister of Defence, Singapore co-chaired the dialogue. DCNS attended the event, where ‘Implementing Arrangement on Mutual Submarine Rescue Support & Cooperation’ was signed.

Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) – Seychelles

The Prime Minister handed over the newly constructed FPV PS Zoroaster to the President of Seychelles, during a virtual ceremony held on April 08, 2021. The vessel was constructed by GRSE, and delivered to Seychelles by an IN crew on February 15, 2021.

Lease of Passenger Variant Dornier to Mauritius

A Passenger Variant Dornier has been provided on lease for two years by IN to Maritime Air Squadron, Mauritius on September 09, 2021. The aircraft is on lease until a new Dornier aircraft is provided by India against a Defence Line of Credit.

Training of Foreign Naval Personnel in India

The Indian Navy has been instrumental in projecting its ‘soft power’ across the Indo-Pacific region through training of more than 15,000 personnel from over 45 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) over the past few decades.
India has been the most preferred destination for the training of foreign personnel from IOR littoral countries and beyond, with an average of 1000 foreign personnel undergoing training in India every year.

42nd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica

Hydrographic Survey team consisting of an Officer and a Hydro sailor is participating in the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica from Nov 2021 to May 2022. They would be carrying out Hydrographic Survey off Larseman Hill and Princess Astrid Coast.

HADR & Search and Rescue Operations

Kerala Flood Relief

The Southern Naval Command (SNC) was at forefront of relief operations during the floods in Chellanam, Kerala in May 2021 wherein several teams were deployed to assist the Local administration in flood relief operations.
In a similar situation at Kottayam in Kerala, assistance was provided by IN helicopters for ferrying relief material to the flood-affected areas on October 17, 2021.

Cyclone ‘Tauktae’

Cyclone ‘Tauktae’ formed around 400 NM SSW of Mumbai on 15 May 21, tracked northward along the West coast of India making landfall near Diu as an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’ on May 17, 2021.
During the Cyclone’s transit/landfall along the West coast, IN conducted extensive SAR operations.

Cyclone ‘Yaas’

A ‘low-pressure area’ formed over East Central Bay of Bengal on May 22, 2021, intensified into a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ and crossed the coast on May 26, 2021, near Dhamra, Odisha, and West Bengal.
IN proactively deployed IN ships Mysore, Ranvijay, Kamorta, and Shakti with HADR pellets for rendering assistance to civil authorities.

Flood Relief Assistance to Maharashtra & Karnataka

Based on a request from the Civil administration received on July 22, 2021, for providing assistance at various districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka owing to floods, ten Flood relief Teams (FRTs), were deployed for rescue efforts in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Air sorties were flown by IN helicopters from Mumbai and Goa and one ALH was deployed at Ratnagiri for rescue mission.

Gujarat Flood Relief

A request from the Civil administration was received by Headquarters, Gujarat Naval Area on September 13, 2021, for providing rescue assistance at Rajkot and Jamnagar owing to floods due to incessant rains.
Five Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) were deployed for assistance. More than 400 civilians were rescued and shifted to safe areas during the operation.

Commissioning and Launching/Start Production

Maiden Sea Trials of IAC1

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ successfully accomplished its maiden sea voyage in August 2021.
This landmark milestone with few parallels reinforces confidence in the largest indigenously designed platform of the Indian Navy and the resolve of countrymen in our quest for ‘Atma Nirbahar Bharat’. Commissioning of Vikrant is being targeted by August 15, 2022.

Commissioning of Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, the first ship of Project 15B, was delivered by Mazagon Dock Limited to the IN on October 28, 2021, at Mumbai and commissioned into IN on November 21, 2021, by Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri.

Commissioning of Submarines

Two sophisticated and potent platforms Karanj and Vela were commissioned on 10 Mar 21 and 25 Nov 21 respectively, with over 75 percent of Indigenous content, having State-of-the-art weapons fit to strengthen our security apparatus in the Western Seaboard.

Commissioning of IN LCUs L58 (Yard 2099)

IN LCU L58 was commissioned at Port Blair on March 31, 2021, by Lt Gen Manoj Pande, Commander-in-Chief, A&N Command. The ship is the last vessel in the series of eight LCU MK IV ships constructed by GRSE, Kolkata.

Commissioning of INAS 323

The first ALH Mk III Squadron was commissioned at INS Hansa as INAS 323 on April 19, 2021, by Shri Shripad Yasso Naik, Raksha Rajya Mantri.

Induction of Advanced Light Helicopter

A new Flight comprising two Advanced Light Helicopters were inducted at INS Shikra on October 29, 2021.

Launching Ceremony of 7th Ship, Tushil

The ‘Launching Ceremony’ of the 7th ship Tushil was held on October 28, 2021, at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation and a delegation from IHQ MoD(N).

Decommissioning

IN Effort during COVID-19

COVID Care

INHS Asvini performed the dual role of a Tertiary Care Medical Facility for the whole of IN as well as a Covid Care Tertiary Hospital since the onset of Covid 19 Pandemic. The infrastructure and trained manpower were re-appropriated within the available resources.

Welfare and Empowerment

The Indian Navy is committed to the welfare, well-being and dignity of the women. It is a constant endeavour of Indian Navy to provide maximum support to women employees and women family members in order to maintain high morale and motivation at all times.

Appointment of women to Frontline Combat Platforms

Woman Officers are being posted on frontline warships including INS Vikramaditya, which holds a strength of 04 women officers (including 02 NAI trainee officers), at par with male officers.
Currently, 28 women officers are appointed to ships and numbers are being progressively increased. Accordingly, the infrastructure onboard ships are being augmented to accommodate additional women officers.

Woman Naval Air Operations Officers

In yet another first in the history of Naval aviation, the first batch of women Naval Operations officers were inducted into the rotary wing and joined the helicopter squadron INAS 336 at INS Garuda, Kochi on February 03, 2021. Lt Kumudini Tyagi and Lt Riti Singh have operated onboard warships as combat aircrew post completion of their Seaking conversion.

Women on Foreign Operational Deployment

Further, the first woman officer was deputed to the Maldives as part of the operational crew for maiden Dornier deployment in September 2020. Women officers have also been inducted in the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) stream in 2021 and the first officer is presently undergoing RPA conversion training.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations

The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the magnificent victory of India in the 1971 war. The year is being observed as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ by the Services. Activities started on December 16, 2020, by observing Vijay Diwas in New Delhi and culminated on December 16, 2021.

Award of President’s Colour

President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Shri Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Colour to Indian Naval Aviation at INS Hansa, Goa on September 06, 2021, and to the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron (Killers Squadron) at Mumbai on December 08, 2021.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

‘INS Karanj’ is
Anti-tank guided missile
Scorpene submarine
Military Tank
Supersonic cruise missile

ANSWER: B

Which organisation has developed an Advanced Chaff to safeguard naval ships against missile attack?
HAL
BEML
BEL
DRDO

ANSWER: D

INS Nireekshak, is classified under which type of vessel?
Submarine
Diving Support Vehicle
Offshore Patrol vessel
Destroyer

ANSWER: B

Varuna’ is a multilateral Defence Exercise between India and …………?
Japan
Sri Lanka
France
Australia

ANSWER: C

Indian Navy Ship______decommissioned after 41 years into service?
INS Chennai
INS Kolkata
INS Rajput
INS Kalvari

ANSWER: C

Indian Navy has undertaken 31st edition of Coordinated Patrols or CORPAT with which country?
Indonesia
Thailand
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka

ANSWER: A

Which organisation has manufactured the Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III inducted into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently?
HAL
DRDO
BEL
OFB

ANSWER: A

INS Hansa is located at
West Bengal
Sikkim
Goa
Andhra Pradesh

ANSWER: C

Who was The Defence Minister of India In The Year Of 1971?
Swaran Singh
Indira Gandhi
Jagjivan Ram
V.K Krishnan Menon

ANSWER: C

SIMBEX is a Maritime Naval Exercise between Singapore and which country?
USA
China
Russia
India

ANSWER: D

‘Sarthak’ is a___
Smart Bomb
Rocket Launcher
Offshore Patrol Vessel
Light Combat Aircraft

ANSWER: C

Which of the Indian Navy Ship has decommissioned after 32 years of service at Visakhapatnam in December 2021?
INS Vikrant
INS Khukri
INS Vijaydurg
INS Surat

ANSWER: B

President’s Standard’ has been awarded to which number Missile Vessel Squadron of the Indian Navy?
25th
22nd
24th
21^st

ANSWER: B

Which is the fourth stealth Scorpene class submarine that has been commissioned into the Indian Navy under Project 75?
INS Hamsa
INS Vela
INS Chakra
INS Hamla

ANSWER: B

India has flagged off 41st edition of the Scientific Expedition to ____in November 2021.
Antarctica
Arctic
Australia
America

ANSWER: A

Which edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) has conducted in November 2021 in the___
Bay of Bengal
Andaman Sea
Arabian Sea
South China Sea

ANSWER: B