NEW DELHI: The three Defence services have wrapped up one of the biggest war games on the Western sea front where they practiced new concepts of synergised operations. The exercise, called Triveni, took place around Lakshadweep islands. It was officially declared closed on Sunday after a week-long operational phase. At the centre of the drills was the heavy naval deployment with the Air Force and Army working around it.
The officials said the tri-service exercises have been taking place almost every year but this, by far, was the biggest mobilisation of naval assets in recent times. Almost the entire Western fleet was at the job and even platforms from the Eastern fleet were deployed. The most notable was the participation of newly acquired Landing Platform Dock (LPD) INS Jalashwa. The focus of the drills was practicing a scenario where an Indian island has been taken over by the enemy and it has to be defended by an offensive action.
The amphibious assault capabilities were displayed with the help of the warship that was earlier part of the US naval fleet. India had recently come out with its amphibious war doctrine and Triveni was the forum where it was practiced.
The aerial support was provided by the Su-30 MKI fighter jets. Navy’s own aerial assets like helicopters and surveillance aircraft were used to test their capabilities and response timings.
The timings of naval mobilisation might have caused anxiety to Pakistan as the mobilisation took place soon after the Mumbai attacks. The officials, however, maintained that the exercises of such magnitude are planned much in advance. There have been several smaller editions of tri-service exercises in the past. The lessons learnt and refinement of procedures would now move to discussion tables of military leaders.
The de-briefs would be studied to find out the level of preparedness. After the Mumbai attacks, focus has been shifted to maritime security.
Apprehensions have been raised about possible scenarios where terror groups can take over uninhabited islands in the Indian territory to use it as a base for launching attacks. The security agencies have already been told to keep vigil on the security around the islands. It is a challenging task as the number of islands in the Indian waters add up to over one thousand.