VISAKHAPATNAM (Sputnik) – Russian and Indian warships will for the first time practice air defense techniques during joint Indra Navy-2015 exercises in the Bay of Bengal, Flag Officer Commanding of India's Eastern Fleet Rear Adm. Soonil V. Bhokare said Tuesday.
"This time we are going to have our fighter aircraft participating from naval base. They will be Hawks based in Visakhapatnam. For the first time these jets will be participating. We’ll be carrying out anti air target shoot, this will be the first time it will happen. There will be a target flying and the ships will try to shoot it down," Bhokare told reporters.
He added that the complexity of exercises increased each year and this year was no exception.
The active phase of the eighth edition of the drills will take place on December 10-12. Russian and Indian fleets are expected to work through anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-ship defense scenarios.