CONTEXT: Recently, the Indian Navy’s ship INS Trikand and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft took part in a joint naval exercise with Oman called Naseem-Al-Bahr, held in Goa.
About Exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr: This is a naval exercise between India and Oman that started in 1993. It reflects the strong, long-term relationship between the two countries. Oman was the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to hold such exercises with India.
The exercise had two parts: activities at the harbour and drills at sea.
- In the harbour, sailors from both navies shared knowledge and participated in planning meetings. They also played sports and took part in social events.
- At sea, the ships practiced different maneuvers like firing at targets, defending against aircraft, and refueling while still at sea. Helicopters from the ships practiced landing on each other’s decks and delivering supplies in mid-air.
The Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft helped by providing targeting information beyond the ships’ visual range.