India and the US conducted the tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) amphibious Exercise Tiger Triumph 24 from 18-31 March. The Harbour Phase of the exercise was conducted at Visakhapatnam from 18 to 25 March and included pre-sail discussions, discussions of HADR procedures as well as sports fixtures to further enhance camaraderie between the participating armed forces personnel of both nations.
The Sea phase, was from 26 to 31 March and involved units of both countries setting up a joint Command and Control Centre and a Joint Relief and Medical Camp. A Planning and Coordination Exercise was concurrently undertaken to discuss and refine a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to enable rapid and smooth coordination between forces of both countries.
The US participating units were US Navy San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset. The Somerset embarked elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and was joined by a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey also took part in the exercise, along with U.S. Army and Air Force assets.
The Indian contribution included the Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship INS Jalashwa (L41), Shardul-class tank landing ship INS Kesari, the Shardul-class tank landing ship INS Airavat, a guided missile frigate and long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The Indian Army would be represented by one infantry battalion group including mechanised forces. The Indian Air Force would deploy medium lift aircraft, transport helicopters and a Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT). Additionally, the Special Ops Forces from all the three services will also participate in the exercise.
The Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar said at the Opening Ceremony that,
“The command exercise here between the Indian Navy and the U.S. Navy aims to standardise the efforts of both navies in working out the SOPs and share their practices amongst them. We get to learn from each other, as to why they’re doing and what they’re doing and how we can incorporate what they do well into our own procedures and therefore have that collective and better and synergized response to any situation like this.”
