Indian Navy to send task force on months-long Indo-Pacific deployment

Amid heightened tensions with neighbouring China, India announced on 2 August that it will send a naval task force on a months-long deployment to Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, and the Western Pacific as part of efforts by New Delhi to enhance military co-operation with ‘friendly countries' in the region under its ‘Act East' policy.

Taking part in the Indo-Pacific deployment, which will start in early August and last more than two months, will be Indian Navy (IN) Rajput (Kashin II)-class destroyer Ranvijay , Shivalik (Project 17)-class frigate Shivalik , Kamorta (Project 28)-class corvette Kadmatt , and Kora (Project 25A)-class corvette Kora , all of which are assigned to the IN's Eastern Fleet.

Guided-missile frigate Shivalik will be one of four warships comprising an IN task force that will soon set out on a months-long deployment to Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, and the Western Pacific. (Via PIB)

Along the way, the warships are scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises with the Vietnam People's Navy, the Philippine Navy, the Republic of Singapore Navy (as part of the ‘SIMBEX' series), the Indonesian Navy (‘Samudra Shakti'), and the Royal Australian Navy (‘AUSINDEX'). They are also scheduled to participate in the ‘Malabar-21' multilateral exercise in the Western Pacific alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Royal Australian Navy, and the US Navy.

“The deployment of the Indian Navy ships seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence, and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo-Pacific [region],” said the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement.