On 22nd July, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2021 of the United Kingdom which was led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier joined the Indian Navy for maritime exercises in the Bay of Bengal for three day duration.
Key Points
-
For the first time, United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2021 led by HMS Queen Elizabeth has had complex maritime interactions with the Indian Navy.
-
In a two-day bilateral Passage Exercise (PASSEX) the Indian Navy along with the Royal Navy conducted various close quarter manoeuvring and multi-ship, sea, air and sub-surface maritime exercises.
-
This maritime exercise aimed for helping both the navies to amplify their cooperation and interoperability.
-
The combined forces included 2 submarines, 10 ships, about 20 aircrafts and around 4,000 personnel.
-
The two navies had an objective to work in tandem in two oceans. Starting within the Indian Ocean for the first round of multiple UK-India exercises and later this summer in the Atlantic Ocean.
About the Carrier Strike Group (CSG)
-
It was the maiden operational deployment of the CSG.
-
Sailing for over 26,000 nautical miles its objective was to engage with 40 different countries starting from the Mediterranean to the Indo-Pacific and returning back to the Mediterranean.
-
The HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier is the largest surface vessel to have ever been constructed in the United Kingdom. It is said to be taller than the famous Niagara Falls.
-
It is equipped with F-35B Lightning multi-role aircrafts.
India Navy’s participation
Indian Navy deployed INS Ranvir, INS Satpura, INS Kavaratti, INS Jyoti, INS Kulish as well as a submarine. For the PASSEX, India also deployed P8I aircraft which are capable of Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance missions as well as Anti-submarine warfare.