`MILAN': Except China, Pakistan, 47 countries invited for naval exercise in Vizag
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will participate in the City Parade at RK Beach on February 27.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 4 Dec 2021 1:54 AM GMT
Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command (ENC) will host Presidential Fleet Review and multilateral naval exercise in Vizag.
Named `MILAN', the biennial and multilateral naval exercise will be held in Vizag city from February 25 to March 3, 2022. Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) will be held on February 21 and 22
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), ENC, Vice-Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta said during the PFR, Vizag city would host nearly 50 ships from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), and Indian Merchant Marine for review by the President.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will participate in the City Parade at RK Beach on February 27.
Biswajit Dasgupta said after the president reviews the fleet, 50 aircraft will carry a fly-past. This will be followed by Milan in which 45 ships and delegates of friendly nations will participate.
Asked whether Pakistan and China were invited for the MILAN, he said that they have sent a list of 47 nations to the Ministry of External Affairs for approval, and China and Pakistan did not figure in it. He said so far 20 have agreed to participate and others have to respond.
"A host of activities have been planned for MILAN as it was being held for the first time under Eastern Naval Command. The first four days will have onshore sessions and later it would be shifted to the mid-sea for exercises. Apart from the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's participation in the City Parade, a defence exhibition will be held at the RK Beach,'' the Vice Admiral said.
Biswajit Dasgupta said MIG 29K, which is part of the air assortment onboard INS Vikrant, will have a squadron in Visakhapatnam. "It is on the cards, but held back momentarily due to some technical issue, Apart from the MIG29K squadron, the navy is acquiring four more P8I aircraft in addition to the existing fleet of eight. All the aircraft will be based at Arakkonam and this will enhance our long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
