The Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh, presided over the debrief of TROPEX-21, a theatre level operational readiness exercise at Kochi on 19 February. The mega exercise which began in January 2021 involved all three Commands of the Indian Navy, the Tri-Services Command at Port Blair, and elements of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard. The Biennial exercise is the largest exercise conducted by Indian Navy aimed to validate its concepts of war-fighting across the entire spectrum of warfare.
TROPEX-21 was held after the coastal defence exercise Sea Vigil, between January 12-13, which included all stakeholder Ministries of Govt of India, State Governments of all coastal states and UTs, the Coast Guard, Port Authorities, shipping and fishing communities coming together and exercising in tandem, with the Indian Navy as the lead agency.
It was followed by an amphibious exercise, the Exercise AMPHEX- 21, between January 21-25, which included Navy’s amphibious ships, units from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. The joint exercise in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea aimed to validate safeguarding of its Island territories. AMPHEX- 21 saw several ‘firsts’ and strengthened joint war fighting capabilities and Standard Operating Procedures towards enhancing operational synergy amongst the Services. AMPHEX- 21 involved amphibious assault ships, surveillance platforms, execution of maritime airstrikes and complex manoeuvres at sea. Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, the amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations also formed part of the exercise. Exercise KAWACH for the defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands was a part of AMPHEX – 21. It included joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance exercise under the aegis of HQ Integrated Defence Staff.
The Weapon Workup Phase of TROPEX-21 witnessed multiple ‘on-target’ ordnance deliveries, including missiles, torpedoes and rockets from frontline warships, aircraft and submarines.