Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta Spells Out Vision 2022

[jaison]

i dont want to heat up the argument

"For the purposes of this academic exercise we are discussing the 2008-2012 timeframe. Not ten years dwon the track where you can make up a few other excuses to cover the incompetance of some bureaucrat"
lets see wat happens

scorpnes,u-212(not u-215),gotlands are the quietest subs if u dont understand that.......i dont know wat u at ,stealth is the submarines speciality do u have any doubt in that.am sorry the los angeles class cannot match the akula-2 they are claimed to be superior to even the new virginia class subs

Russian Navy moves forward with "fourth-generation" SSNs
Sea Power, Oct 2001 by Preston, Antony
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SEA POWER INTERNATIONAL

The Rubin Central Naval Design Bureau has announced that it is developing fourth-- generation submarines. Rubin's head, academician Igor Spassky, said in an interview, "We are developing submarine concepts for the next two decades. The submarine Gepard, which has recently been put to trial, is one of the latest third-generation submarines. We are working on fourthgeneration submarines now."
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NATO has given the codename Akula II to the new design, but the official Russian Navy designation for the Bars-class boat is Project 971 M. The Gepard, which previously had been reported to have started trials in the White Sea (following delivery last year by the Severodvinsk shipyard), is the second Akula II to be completed, and is claimed to be superior in many respects to SSNs (nuclearpowered attack submarines) of the U.S. Navy's Los Angeles class, but this assessment must be seen in its proper context. It would hardly surprise anyone if the latest Russian SSN design were superior in at least some ways to what are now the oldest attack submarines in the U.S. Navy's inventory. Much more relevant would be a claim that the Akula II is superior to the U.S. Seawolf- and Virginia-class SSNs. is this rubbish

Related note: Asked about the causes of the Kursk tragedy, Spassky said that he has his own ideas: "We Russian Navy scientists assess the whole situation with Kursk critically. We are mapping out measures that can be worked out in order to minimize the impact of forces that hit the Kursk, but in essence this is combat impact, and it is extremely difficult to rescue a ship from such impact. Unfortunately, it [also] is impossible to make protection against such impact."

Antony Preston, a London-based naval analyst and broadcaster, is cofounder of the international newsletter NAVINT.

Copyright Navy League of the United States Oct 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
Russian Navy moves forward with "fourth-generation" SSNs | Sea Power | Find Articles at BNET
and ur comment abt the "yawn"

 

[nitesh]

D A I J I W O R L D

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:54:35 PM (IST)
Panaji: GSL Envisages Extensive Modernization Plan

from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Aug 27: India's one of the leading shipyards on the western coast, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), has envisaged an extensive modernization plan which will be executed by mid-2011.

"In order to meet the future challenges and remain competitive in domestic as well as global market, the company has embarked upon a planned modernization project to augment its infrastructure and facilities," GSL's chairman and managing director Rear Admiral A K Handa stated.

The shipyard, which is a major ship-building yard for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, has expected to triple its production capacity by mid-2011 once the modernization is in place.

He said that the value of production would also increase significantly post-modernization, adding up to the profits.

The GSL in its annual general body meeting held on Wednesday August 27 felt that the year that has passed by saw tremendous improvement over the previous years and scaled new heights since its inception in 1957, the spokesman said.

The company figures revealed that during the financial year 2007-08, the company has achieved highest Value of Production (VoP) eversince its inception of Rs 317.21 crore as compared to Rs 267.07 crore, which is up by 19% over the previous year.

The yard earned a profit before tax of Rs 106.93 crore as compared to Rs 66.05 crore last year, while the net profit after tax stood at Rs 69.97 crore as against Rs 40.69 crore in the previous year.

Handa said that during the year, the company created yet another historical milestone by delivering the biggest ever Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) ICGS 'Sankalp', indigenously designed in house and built by the company.

"In its quest for self-reliance in sophisticated shipbuilding, the company launched the sixth AOPV built for Indian Coast Guard," the CMD said.

The GSL also received repeat orders from Indian Navy for construction of fourth Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel and second Sail Training Ship.

With a healthy order book position of Rs 3470 crore, the Company is confident of achieving the production target of Rs 425.76 crore for the fiscal year 2008-09 with optimum capacity utilization as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the GSL with the Government of India, he said.

 

[nitesh]

IndianExpress.com :: China works on matching India’s naval fleet

China works on matching India’s naval fleet
Manu Pubby
Posted online: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 0110 hrs

To have functional aircraft carrier for training by 2012 when India expects to get Gorshkov
New Delhi, August 26: China is set to get its first functional aircraft carrier -- a refurbished Soviet-era Kiev class warship -- by 2012 and will use it exclusively to train Navy personnel for the three indigenous carriers it plans to induct over the next decade.

While it is a known fact that the defunct Varyag aircraft carrier that was purchased from Ukraine as scrap for $20 million in 1998 was planned as a training platform for the Chinese Navy, India now believes that the warship will be ready for basic training operations as early as 2012.
The ship has been renamed as the Shilang and has been transferred to the Dalian Naval Academy for induction as a training platform, latest intelligence inputs available with strategic think tanks suggest.
The carrier, which was left two-thirds complete by the USSR and lacked a propulsion system when it was sold as scrap to a Macau-based company, is being fitted with a Chinese power plant and will sail out of the Dalian dock by 2012 -- the year India is expecting the Gorshkov carrier to arrive from Russia -- and will be used to carry out basic landing and take off practice.
While the 67,000-ton carrier will not be able to carry out full fledged maritime operations, it will be fully ready for training purposes by 2012 to pave the way for the induction of three aircraft carriers that China is manufacturing indigenously.
Analysts say that though India is currently ahead in the maritime domain and has been operating aircraft carriers since 1961 when it commissioned the British origin INS Vikrant, China is fast catching up with its nuclear submarine programme and the intention to acquire an aircraft carrier fleet.
However, it could take the country up to two decades -- the time required to train crews and fine-tune operations aboard warships of this size -- to have a fully operational aircraft carrier group, analysts say.
While the Chinese project has been kept under wraps, India has already publicly announced its indigenous aircraft carrier programme. Work on the first Air Defence Ship (ADS) has already started at the Cochin Shipyard and the order for a second indigenous carrier is likely to be placed by next year.
India's sole carrier, the INS Viraat, is set for decommissioning by 2012 by which time the Gorshkov is expected to arrive.
Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta has expressed his concern about the increasing number of nuclear submarines in India's neighbourhood in reference to China's new generation nuclear submarines that have come to light over the past year.

 

[nitesh]

TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos -
In the wake of recent hijacks of ships on the Somalia coast and the threat to shipping line, Indian Navy has sent a proposal to the Indian government of having regular patrols in the Somalia waters, on the line of US naval patrols, which is now stationed there.

The letter was written after pirates took over a cargo ship, 'Iran Deynat' in Somalia on August 21. There were total 24 people in the ship including three Indians. The ship 'Iran Deynat' was sailing towards Somalia carrying cargo from Poland.

The proposal deal with the implications of having regular patrols in the area, and this could lead to quicker response by the Indian Navy in case of similar responses in the future. This could lead to unilateral action or even joint action against pirates.

The transitional federal government of Somalia has authorized the United Nations Security Council to permit other countries to enter Somalia waters to fight pirates. Somali coastal waters are among the most hazardous in the world, despite the presence of US navy patrols there.

The US and NATO warships have been patrolling off the Horn of Africa for years in an effort to crack down on piracy off Somalia, where a UN-backed transitional government is struggling to restore order after 15 years of near-anarchy.

navy sources:

1. the transitional federal government of Somalia has authorised the united nations security council to permit other countries to enter somali waters to fight piracy

2. keeping this in mind, the indian navy has sent a proposal to the indian govt regarding activity in somali waters after the recent incident of piracy happened

3. the proposals deal with the implications of having regular patrols in the area. this could lead to quicker response by the navy in case of similar responses in the future

4. this could lead to unilateral action or even joint action against pirates. there is an american naval task force there, for example

 

[nitesh]

BAE India looking at building ships

BAE Systems India, subsidiary of the Britain-based global defence company BAE Systems, is planning a foray into shipbuilding besides expanding operations in India with more joint ventures and partnerships, a top company official said here Thursday.

"We are open to shipbuilding and will explore it. Our team will start working on it from the year end," Julian Scopes, the newly appointed president of BAE Systems India, told reporters. "We are working out plans for more strategic tie-ups in India. We are no more an aircraft company," he added.

BAE has a partnership with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bangalore since 1983. Scopes said BAE was waiting for the Indian government's clearance for its strategic tie-up with the auto giant Mahindra and Mahindra (MM) to manufacture heavy armed land vehicles besides artillery equipment.

"Once we get the consent of the Indian government, our shares in the company would go up from 26 percent to 49 percent. This will give us a better economic recognition," he said.

BAE is also working on more partnerships with the state-owned Indian firms involved in defence research and development. "We want to expand in India. We are now limited to selling Hawks and linked to other smaller programmes concerning defence sector," Scopes said.

The company delivered over 12 advanced jet trainers Hawk to the Indian Air Force (IAF) this year. Scopes, however, refused to comment on an incident where a Hawk trainer skidded off the runway.

By this month-end, the IAF is hopeful of getting 24 of these trainer jets to start its first advanced pilot training course. Under the deal, India is buying 24 Hawks off the shelf and remaining 42 fighters will be assembled at the HAL facility in Bangalore under technology transfer from BAE systems.

The first HAL built Hawk trainer was inducted by the IAF on Aug 15. BAE Systems and HAL are scheduled to complete the delivery of all 66 aircraft by 2011.

 

[nitesh]

so finally it is arriving

RIA Novosti - Russia - Russia to deliver Admiral Gorshkov to India after 2011

GELENDZHIK (South Russia), September 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will deliver the modernized Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India after 2011, Russia's state-run arms exporter said on Friday.

"We are planning to deliver the aircraft carrier to India after 2011, but an addendum to the original contract must be signed," Mikhail Zavaliy, a Rosoboronexport official told reporters at an air show in the Krasnodar Region.

The original $750-million contract to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, which Rosoboronexport signed with the Indian Navy in 2004, projected the work would be completed in 2008.

However, Russia later claimed it underestimated the scale and the cost of the modernization and demanded an additional $1.2 billion, which New Delhi said was "exorbitant."

After long-running delays and disputes, Russia and India agreed in February to raise refit costs for the aircraft carrier, docked at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia for the past 12 years, by at least $800 million.

The current contract covers a complete overhaul of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-submarine helicopters.

The carrier, renamed the Vikramaditya, is to replace India's INS Viraat carrier, which, although currently operational, is now 50 years old.

The Sevmash shipyard said on June 3 it planned to sail the aircraft carrier out into the Barents Sea for trials in 2011. In early 2012, the ship is expected to be finally refitted and trials will continue into the summer of that year.

At the end of 2012, the aircraft carrier is expected to be fully prepared for its handover to the Indian navy, the company said.

After it has been refitted, the Gorshkov is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.

 

[nitesh]

Forces ready with joint amphibious warfare doctrine-India-The Times of India

Forces ready with joint amphibious warfare doctrine
7 Sep 2008, 0121 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN

NEW DELHI: Right from the days of Normandy and other landings during World War II, amphibious operations have played a crucial part in modern day warfare.

Though late in the making, the Indian armed forces are now ready with their own amphibious warfare doctrine to take the battle to enemy shores. The "joint doctrine for amphibious operations" will be released by the chiefs of staff committee, comprising Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Air Chief Marshal F H Major and General Deepak Kapoor, on September 9, said sources.

The doctrine has been prepared after four years of hard work by the integrated defence staff (IDS), which even saw Army, Navy and IAF conducting two "major" amphibious exercises in 2005 and 2007 to "test and validate" some of its concepts.

"The glitches in the doctrine were then ironed out. It will now serve as a guide for the planning and conduct of amphibious operations, achieving full synergy in the joint combat power of the three Services," said a source.

The whole direction of a war, after all, can be changed with one properly planned and well-executed amphibious operation, which is basically a military operation launched from the sea with soldiers embarked on ships to effect a landing on a hostile shore.

The Army, incidentally, already has two specifically-earmarked "amphibious brigades", with almost 10,000 soldiers, one based at Thiruvananthapuram, and the other at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Navy's "strategic sealift capability", in turn, got a big boost with the induction of the huge 16,900-tonne amphibious transport warship INS Jalashwa , known as the USS Trenton earlier, from US in 2007.

The 173-metre long INS Jalashwa , the second largest Indian warship after the 28,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Viraat , can transport four landing craft, six helicopters and a battalion of 900-1,000 fully-armed soldiers over long distances.

"The IAF comes in since an amphibious operation will require air cover to warships and landing platform docks carrying soldiers, which are at their most vulnerable during landings," said a senior officer.

"Amphibious operations, which are inherently mobile and flexible, are probably the most complex of all military manoeuvres. They require all types of warships, aircraft, weapons, landing and special forces acting in a well-oiled concerted manner to establish beachheads," he added.

 

[nitesh]

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=467881

New Delhi, Sept 09: In a major step towards providing the much-needed synergy among its three armed forces, India on Tuesday promulgated a new doctrine to effectively conduct operations in an amphibious environment involving sea, land and air dimensions.

Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman and Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta released the "Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations", meant to serve as a guideline on how the Armed Forces intend to plan and conduct amphibious operations involving all three dimensions of warfare.

"The doctrine is meant to serve as a guideline on how Armed Forces intend to plan and conduct these operations and achieve full synergistic effect of joint combat power," Defence Ministry sources said here.

Laying down the commonality among the tri-services for the smooth conduct of amphibious operations, the joint doctrine, which had been under preparation for the last four years, contained lessons learnt during the Army, Navy and Air Force's joint amphibious exercises conducted in 2005 and 2007.

"We have incorporated in the doctrine all the lessons learnt during the exercises since 2004 to validate some of the concepts," sources said.

Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Hardev Singh Lidder and other senior officials of the three forces were present during the doctrine release.

Indian defence forces have been consciously moving in the direction of integration of their operations and the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) Headquarters has, since its inception, made the necessary efforts in streamlining some of the joint aspects.

The IDS headquarters had got several aspects such as training, operations, financial planning, budgeting and overseeing the tri-service institutions of the defence forces integrated to an extent already and has promulgated a number of joint doctrines, orders and instructions in this regard.

Since the time of World War II, particularly the famous Normandy landings by the Allied Forces, modern day warfare has witnessed the crucial part played by amphibious operations.

Though India has been late in preparing a doctrine for amphibious warfare, the Indian armed forces have now readied themselves with their own doctrine that would help them in taking the battle to enemy shores, literally.

The two amphibious exercises carried out by Army, Navy and Air Force helped the IDS in resolving the glitches in the concepts and incorporate them in the doctrine.

In fact, one well-planned and executed amphibious operation -- basically a tri-service operation launched from the sea by carrying soldiers and their weaponry on a ship and affecting a landing on enemy shore -- could change the course of a war.

Bureau Report

 

[nitesh]

DNA - India - Canadian ships to exercise with Indian Navy - Daily News & Analysis

NEW DELHI: Two Canadian warships will be visiting Indian waters for four days from Wednesday and carry out an exercise in the sea off the Chennai coast on Saturday.
The two ships -- HMCS Calgary and HMCS Protecteur -- will dock at the Chennai port while the Canadian Naval officers and men interact with their Indian counterparts there during the visit, Indian Navy sources said here on Tuesday.

Before the ships leave the Indian waters, the two navies would conduct a Passage Exercise in the Bay of Bengal involving communication, manoeuvring, station keeping, Visit-Board-Search-Seize operations and exchange of personnel.

HMCS Calgary is a Halifax-class frigate with a complement of 215 men including 25 officers. It has a maximum displacement of 4,770-tonnes and is equipped with Electronic Counter Measures capability. It carries Harpoon missiles, Sea Sparrow Surface-to-Air Missile, 57-mm Bofors Gun and suitable Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, along with a Sea King helicopter.

HMCS Protecteur is an Auxillary ship (tanker) with a complement of 365 men including 27 officers. It has a maximum displacement of 24,700 tonne and carries a Sea King helicopter.

 

[nitesh]

Russia to re-negotiate Gorshkov deal during Minister's visit - Yahoo! India News

New Delhi, Sept 9 (PTI) The ongoing price negotiations for the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier will get a fillip this month-end when Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visits India to attend the 8th round of an inter-governmental commission. "The Russian Defence Minister will be in New Delhi from September 28 to 30 to co-chair the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation," Defence Ministry sources said here today.

Indian Defence Minister A K Antony will be the other chairperson for the annual meeting, which was last held in Moscow in September 2007. There would be delegation-level meetings between the two Defence Ministers, apart from a visit by Serdyukov to BrahMos Aerospace Limited complex here in New Delhi.

BrahMos is an Indo-Russian joint venture for design, development and marketing of cruise missiles. The meeting is taking place in the backdrop of the two countries coming close to renegotiating the key Gorshkov aircraft carrier (re-christened INS Vikramaditya) deal, with New Delhi considering the Russian demand for a staggering US 1.2 billion dollar hike in the price of the warship.

The ship was sold to India for US 1.5 billion dollar by Russia on the condition that its refit would be done in the Sevmash shipyard there to which India agreed. But there have been problems with the shipyard delaying the delivery of the aircraft carrier, which is crucial for Indian Navy's operational plans, to 2012.

 

[nitesh]

US offers India $170 mn deal for sale of 24 harpoon missiles- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

US offers India $170 mn deal for sale of 24 harpoon missiles
10 Sep, 2008, 0924 hrs IST, IANS

WASHINGTON: The US has offered India a $170 million deal for the sale of two dozen Harpoon air to ground anti-ship missiles to modernise its air force anti-surface warfare mission capabilities and improve its naval operational flexibility.

The Pentagon announced the possible sale of the Harpoon missiles to India as Defence minister A K Antony met his US counterpart Robert Gates Tuesday "to discuss ways to deepen the bilateral security cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest."

There was no official word from the Indian side but the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said it had notified the Pentagon of the possible Foreign Military Sale to India of Harpoon Block II Missiles as well as associated equipment and services. Such a deal would be worth as much as 170 million dollars. "The Government of India has requested a possible sale of 20 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and 4 ATM-84L Harpoon Block II Exercise missiles," the agency said.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important partner and to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia," it said. "India intends to use the Harpoon missiles to modernise its Air Force Anti-Surface Warfare mission capabilities and improve its naval operational flexibility.

"The missiles will assist the Indian Navy to develop and enhance standardisation and operational ability with the United States. India will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces," DSCA said. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, it said. The prime contractor will be The Boeing Company of St. Louis, Missouri.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region. There will also be no adverse impact on US defence readiness, DSCA said. The Harpoon is an all weather, subsonic, over the horizon, anti-ship missile which can be launched from surface ships, submarines and aircraft.

The Harpoon Block II is the latest version of the Harpoon missile and is able to strike land-based targets and ships in littoral environments. The Harpoon Block II missile can discriminate target ships from islands and other nearby land masses. The Block II is fully compatible with current operating Harpoon platforms with no modifications required.

 

[nitesh]

guys check this, this (harpoon sale) was on cards from a long time:

Air Force, Defence Ministry Clash Over Boeing HARPOON Missile | India Defence

India's Air Force and Defence Ministry are clashing over procurement of air-launched anti-ship missiles. Ministry officials complain that only one bidder has been shortlisted, while Air Force leaders claim they are being pressured to accept lesser capabilities.

Boeing's Harpoon was the only missile among those offered by five competitors that service officials said met their requirements to replace the Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles that arm the Jaguar aircraft fleet.

Because of the single-vendor situation, an Indian Air Force official said, the Defence Ministry has pressured the service to modify its technical requirements and refloat the tender.

The Air Force in October floated a limited global tender to France's MBDA, Israel's Rafael, Russia's Rosoboronexport, and U.S. firms Boeing and Raytheon, seeking to procure unspecified numbers of anti-ship missiles for $100 million.

One of the main technical requirements is that the new missile have a minimum range of 100 kilometers, Air Force officials said. Only the Harpoon met that requirement.

The Defence Ministry recently directed the Air Force to reduce the required range of the anti-ship missile, the service official said

 

[Marshal]

Indian Navy To Get AEW&C
Early this month, the Navy floated a request for information for procurement of three AEW&C aircraft it intends to induct in the next five years. The request has been issued to BrazilÂ’s Embraer, ItalyÂ’s Alenia Aeronautica, SpainÂ’s EADS CASA, UkraineÂ’s Antonov and U.S. firms Gulfstream and Northrop Grumman. The companies have been asked to submit technical specifications in eight weeks, after which the Navy intends to float a formal request for proposals in May. The Navy is expected to finalize the projectÂ’s budget in 2011. A senior Navy official said the service is looking at twin-engine aircraft weighing 20 to 35 tons. The Navy asked planemakers to provide technical data about new-generation radar with mechanical and electronic scanning capabilities, mission computers and technical workstations, communication systems and datalink suites, and electronic countermeasures.

The firms have also been asked to submit technical parameters of endurance, range, flying capabilities in rough weather conditions, and ability to carry anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
In 2004, India acquired three Phalcon airborne warning and control system (AWACS) radar from Israel to be mounted on three Russian Il-76 aircraft for $1.5 billion. Deliveries were scheduled in 2007 but have been delayed until early 2009.

Indian Defence Ministry sources said the Air Force has proposed buying more Phalcon aircraft in addition to the three already contracted in 2004 for $370 million each. The Phalcon phased-array radar allows the AWACS to pick up a variety of enemy signals operating up to 400 kilometers distant.

The Air Force wants to use the additional Phalcons as part of the Aerospace Command under development by the Indian Defence Forces. Meanwhile, the Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Studies, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has begun design and development of an AEW&C system to be mounted on a Brazilian Embraer. Under the deal, Embraer will modify its regional jet aircraft, the EMB-145, to carry the active array antenna unit developed by the organization. Three modified EMB-145 aircraft will be developed under this agreement; the first one to be delivered in three years.

India has been pushing AEW&C procurement since Pakistan ordered five Saab 2000 aircraft fitted with Erieye airborne early warning (AEW) systems from Sweden in a deal valued at about $1 billion in 2006. PakistanÂ’s Navy also acquired P-3 Orion aircraft from the United States fitted with Hawkeye 2000 AEW systems.


Indian Navy To Get AEW&C www.idrw.org / Indian Defense Research Wing

 

[nitesh]

I don't know what our forces are up to according to AFM article deal for 3 additional phalcons is signed. DRDO is working on it's AEW&C and now navy also going for one platform. I think they should have taken phalcons only.

 

[nitesh]

Canada warships dock for joint exercise with Navy -Chennai-Cities-The Times of India

Canada warships dock for joint exercise with Navy
11 Sep 2008, 0834 hrs IST,TNN

CHENNAI: Two Canadian naval warships arrived in the city on Wednesday on a three -day stop-over , before they return to Canada following a four-month counter-terrorism deployment in the Arabian Sea as part of a multinational coalition, the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.

The warships 'Calgary' and 'Protecteur' will take part in a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy on September 13 in the Bay of Bengal before embarking on their return journey. "This port of call is a part of strategic engagement visits for Canada. We will be undertaking joint exercises with the Indian Navy and seek to build operational skills between the warships," the commanding officer of the multi-purpose frigate Commander Kelly Larkin told reporters on board the ship, after it had docked at the Chennai port.

"The main mission of the two ships is to counter terrorism across the globe. The purpose of the visit here is to increase confidence and strengthen ties between the two navies," Larkin said.

During the three day stopover in Chennai, crew members will take part in community service and also go sight-seeing in Chennai. "Over 100 members of our crew have volunteered their time to work on the facilities at a local school and a research foundation," Larkin said. The crew will visit Servasev Vidhyalaya school in Manithottam and the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on the IT Corridor.