Source : Prasar Bharati News Service (PBNS)
Indian Navy’s INS Trikand is participating in the ongoing International Maritime Exercise 23 (IMX 23) and Cutlass Express 23 (CE 23). This year, both IMX and CE exercises are being held in a combined format from February 26 to March 16, 2023 in the Gulf Region.
IMX 23 and CE 23 are witnessing participation from over 50 countries and international maritime agencies. Indian Navy’s involvement in International Maritime Exercise this year marks its maiden participation in the exercise.
International Maritime Exercise & Cutlass Express
The International Maritime Exercise (IMX) is the largest maritime exercise in the Middle Eastern region. The exercise, hosted by U.S Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), kicked off its operational phase on March 2 during an opening ceremony at U.S. 5th Fleet’s headquarters in Bahrain.
The ceremony also held a week of academic sessions on a variety of subjects, including the techniques used in maritime operations centres and coordination of disaster response.
On the other hand, the exercise Cutlass Express is undertaken in coastal areas of East Africa and the West Indian Ocean to combat malicious influence, aggression, and activity in overlapping command seams and maritime zones.
The combined exercise is witnessing 7,000 soldiers, 35 ships, and 30 unmanned and artificial intelligence systems from more than 50 countries and international organisations.
In addition to other areas of focus, the operational phase of the exercise will involve partner exchanges on mine countermeasures, visit, board, search, and seize, unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integration, explosive ordnance disposal, vessel defence, search and rescue, and mass casualty response.
Both IMX and CE are aimed towards displaying global resolve in upholding the rules-based international order and providing participants with a chance to cooperate and highlight regional maritime security cooperation.
Multinational maritime exercises like IMX and CE provides the Indian Navy with opportunities to enhance ties with maritime partners in the Indian Ocean Region while boosting interoperability and collective marine capabilities. In addition, it also gives the Navy the opportunity to positively impact regional security and stability.
