Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-1 arrived at Doha for the inaugural edition of the Bilateral Maritime Exercise Za’ir-Al Bahr (Roar of the sea).

The five-day exercise which began yesterday will be carried out between the Indian Navy and Qatari Amiri Naval Forces. Za’ir-Al Bahr 2019 would strengthen cooperation and enhance interoperability between the two navies. The Exercise will include a three-day Harbour Phase and two days Sea Phase. The activities during the harbour phase will include a seminar, professional interaction, official visits, sports fixtures along with social and cultural events.

The sea phase will include a Tactical Maritime Exercise involving the domains of surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction and anti-terrorism operations.

Details about the exercise was given by the officials at a joint press conference held on the board yesterday. The press conference was attended by Ambassador of India, P Kumaran; Indian Defence Attaché, Captain Kapil Kaushik; Marine Major Ghanim Abdullah Al Kaabi; and INS Trikand commanding officer, Captain Vishal Bishnoi. INS Trikand commanded by captain Vishal Bishnoi, is one of the frontline frigates of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors. The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s western fleet and is under the operational command of the flag officer commanding-in-chief, western Naval command, based at Mumbai. The PS-I maritime patrol aircraft incorporates the latest technology for maritime surveillance.

The Qatari Amiri Naval Forces participating in this exercise include the versatile anti-ship missile-equipped Barzan Class fast attack craft along with Rafale multi-task fighter aircraft.

India and Qatar have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relation, sharing common developmental and cultural values. The inaugural edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between the two navies would further

strengthen the robust defence co-operation between the two countries, especially in the fight against terrorism, maritime piracy and maritime security.

Source: The Peninsula