10th Edition of India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 begins

Tags: Defence

The 10th Edition of the annual India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 began in Colombo on the 3rd of April. 

An overview of the news

• The exercise is being conducted in two phases of three days each, the harbor phase and the sea phase.

• The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lankan Navy will be represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.

• In addition, Chetak helicopters and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy as well as Dornier and BEL 412 helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force will also participate in the exercise.

• Special forces of both the navies will also participate in this exercise together.

• The sea phase of the exercise will include exercises in multi-dimensions such as surface and anti-air firing exercises, seamanship evaluation, helicopter and maritime patrol aircraft operations, advanced tactical manoeuvres, search and rescue and special forces operations at sea.

• The 9th edition of this exercise was concluded on 10 March 2022 at Visakhapatnam, in Bay of Bengal. 

Objective of SLINEX-2023

• SLINEX-2023 aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures in multi-dimensional maritime operations between the two navies.