Date:19/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/19/stories/2008041961561300.htm

National

U.S., French ships too in naval war games

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Warships from the U.S. and France will participate in the annual bilateral India-U.K. naval exercises on the western seaboard near Goa, the British High Commission said here in a statement.

This is the third edition of the ‘Konkan’ series of India-U.K. exercises. It is scheduled from April 21 to May 2.

The Royal Navy will field the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (with six helicopters), guided missile frigate HMS Westminster and the submarine HMS Trafalgar along with logistic and fuel support ships. They will be joined by the U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS Cole (which was attacked by a suicide bomber in 2000 at the Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 soldiers) and the French frigate FS Surcouf.

The Indian Navy will field two guided missile destroyers INS Mysore and INS Rajput, the guided missile frigate INS Gomati and submarine INS Shishukumar, besides the fuel replenishment ship INS Aditya. The exercise will be conducted under the tactical command of the Flag Officer Commander, Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Anil Chopra. The major thrust will be on combined maritime operations, with the Indian Navy’s Sea Harrier fighters operating from Goa, and exercises between the submarines of the two navies.