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Indo-U.S. naval exercises begin

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 26. A joint Indo-U.S. naval exercise comprising over 750 U.S Navy personnel began today off the west coast. Codenamed `Exercise Malabar', it is designed to increase inter-operability between the two navies and includes surface, sub-surface and air events, as well as personnel exchanges.

India will provide two warships, a submarine and a maritime aircraft for the fourth round of such exercises and the first since 1996. The U.S. Navy will be represented by the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the Spruance class destroyer, USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964), and a P-3C patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. During the exercise, the two navies will work together on a variety of skill areas, including cross-decking of helicopters, formation steaming, coordinated gun shoots and anti-submarine warfare training.

USS Chancellorsville and Paul F. Foster arrived in Kochi today. In addition to participating in exercise-related planning and briefings, the crews will have the opportunity to enjoy cultural exchanges and social activities with the participants and local citizens.

Chancellorsville has a crew of approximately 360 and is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. Paul F. Foster, with a crew of about 340, is home-ported in Everett, Washington. Both ships are in the midst of routine operations in the U.S. 7th fleet area of operations. A U.S. Navy ship last visited Kochi in May this year. Around the same time, about 100 Indian armed forces personnel, along with the Indian Air Force's transport workhorse IL-76 plan to practice inter-operability with their American counterparts in the rugged terrain near the Elmendorf air force base at Fort Richardson in Anchorage. The Alaska exercise code named `Jeronimo Thurst' could be followed by another round of joint exercises at Agra. Following this, Indian troops will practice in Guam.

Both exercises are aimed at meeting potential threats from terrorists. India and the U.S. resumed joint exercises in May this year. Significantly, ever since Pokhran-II, India was the only democracy with which the U.S. did not have a strong military relationship.

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