Senior Indian Armed Forces Leaders Witness Joint Phase of TROPEX 25 Aboard INS Vikrant

On January 31, senior officials from the Indian Armed Forces, including Lt Gen Johnson P Mathew, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, VAdm K Swaminathan, Air Marshal SP Dharkar, and Lt Gen Ajay Kumar, visited the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) INS Vikrant. This visit took place off the West Coast to observe the Joint Phase of the TROPEX 25 exercise.

The purpose of the visit was to provide these senior officers with insights into the coordination and hierarchical structure of maritime operations. Air Marshal Dharkar, Vice Chief of Air Staff, also participated in the exercise by embarking on INS Vikrant in a MiG-29K trainer, showcasing the jointmanship between the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force.

This overnight sea sortie was a crucial part of the ongoing TROPEX and AMPHEX exercises, which focus on joint operational activities across all services. TROPEX 25 is a large-scale operational exercise by the Indian Navy, spanning the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It integrates the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard to assess and enhance operational readiness and coordination.

The exercise involves over 70 Indian Navy ships, including six submarines, and more than 75 aircraft, operating in diverse conditions from the Persian Gulf to the northern coast of Australia. Past editions, like TROPEX 2023, marked significant operational milestones, culminating in the Arabian Sea with coastal defence operations and amphibious exercises.

The Defence Minister has previously praised the Indian Navy's combat readiness and operational capabilities, emphasizing the strategic importance of these exercises for national security.