India-Italy maiden Carrier Strike Groups exercise off the West Coast

New Delhi: In yet another sign of improved bilateral links, the Carrier Strike Groups of the Indian and Italian navies exercised for the first time for two days in the Arabian Sea during which they fired weapons in a coordinated manner.

Held on Oct 5-6, the Carrier Strike Group exercise was led by the two aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour along with missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and frigate ITS Alpino, an Indian Navy spokesperson said.

The maiden naval drill involving aircraft carriers from both sides comes after a decade of strained relation between New Delhi and Rome due to the Italian marine controversy and India’s decision to ban major Italian arms manufacturers for corruption charges in the wake of the VVIP chopper row.

With the situation improving in the last three years, the two strike groups held intense operations with their integral fighter aircraft and helicopters, for combined large force engagements, air combat missions, helicopter operations and search and rescue missions, the spokesperson said.

India’s MiG-29K and Italy’s F-35B flew together for joint missions in the western seaboard.

The two navies also carried out co-ordinated weapon firings and manoeuvres to underscore joint operations as well as command and control capabilities, and enhance interoperability.

“A key facet of the landmark exercise was the participation of IAF that undertook manoeuvres with Italian carrier aircraft including large force engagements and combat missions,” he said.

The sea phase of the exercise was preceded by a harbour phase which saw expert exchanges between the two sides and other professional interactions as well as a pre-sail planning conference that included participation of the Indian Air Force.

Last year India and Italy signed a defence cooperation agreement after a series of steps were taken to normalise the bilateral relations.