New Delhi (TIP): India on Friday, Dec 4,  kick-started a two-day naval exercise with Russia in the eastern Indian Ocean, two weeks after it conducted the Malabar wargames with the US, Australia and Japan.

The Russian Navy had deployed its guided-missile cruiser Varyag, large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga for the “passage exercise”, officials said. The Indian Navy has been represented by indigenously constructed guided-missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmatt along with their integral helicopters. “The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies. It would involve advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises and helicopter operations,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. “The passage exercises are conducted regularly by the Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies while visiting each other’s ports or during a rendezvous at sea,” he said.

He said the ongoing exercise reflects the strong long-term strategic relationship between the two countries.

“This exercise is being conducted on the occasion of ‘Navy Day’ which emphasises the strong bonds of friendship shared between the two friendly militaries. It would be another step towards strengthening Indo-Russian defence relations,” Commander Madhwal said.

Navy Day is celebrated every year on December 4 to commemorate the Indian Navy’s achievement in inflicting heavy damage on Pakistani vessels in Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan war in 1971.