Though the Navy routinely sends its ships and aircraft to Maldives, this would be one of the longest stays of an Indian naval aircraft on the island nation. The aircraft deployment comes at a time when Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Ltd is setting up a chain of coastal radar stations in Maldives.
Aiding the island nations is one of India’s key maritime strategies to retain its edge and blocking Chinese attempts to gain superiority in the strategic Indian Ocean through which bulk of the global oil and cargo shipping takes places.
The just-concluded naval commander’s conference in the capital discussed Navy’s plan to grow in its stature in the Indian Ocean.
Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said the Navy would be getting amphibious ships, aircraft carriers, more destroyers and frigates, nuclear and conventional submarines and brand new aircraft to boost its capability.
India is sending ships and aircraft to Seychelles and Mauritius as well. A Dornier is in Seychelles since February and flew more than 300 hours.
Four Indian Navy pilots are stationed in Mauritius to fly their maritime aircraft and a senior Navy officer has been posted in Port Louis to advise the Mauritius government on maritime affairs.
Besides the strategic significance, both island nations are important Indian partners in the fight against pirates in the Indian Ocean.
The Navy chief would elaborate on the role of these nations and their linkages to India in a lecture at Naval War College in Rhodes Island on Wednesday.