Currently, the Navy has a fleet of approximately 40 MiG-29K jets (File)
New Delhi:
The Indian Navy’s Poseidon 8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft has been deployed to eastern Ladakh to conduct surveillance along the Line of Control (LAC) and some of its MiG-29K jets will likely be stationed at key IAF bases in the northern sector. in the middle of the border with China, sources said on Tuesday.
The sources said military chiefs are planning to deploy Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter jets to a few air bases in the northern sector as part of efforts to build synergy of the three services to address security challenges. national.
The maritime fighter jets will complement the efforts of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to significantly enhance deep strikes and air domination capabilities, they said.
At present, the Navy has a fleet of around 40 MiG-29K aircraft and at least 18 of them are deployed on the country’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
The IAF has already positioned almost all of its frontline fighter jets like the Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 planes at major border air bases in eastern Ladakh and elsewhere along the LAC, a decision that came in the background of the border with China. Diplomatic and military talks between China and India are continuing with a view to the complete disengagement of troops from a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh.
The IAF has carried out night combat air patrols in the eastern region of Ladakh in recent weeks, as part of its readiness to deal with any eventuality in the mountainous region.
By the second half of August, the IAF plans to deploy five Rafale fighter jets in the Ladakh sector, which should significantly improve its combat capabilities. India is expected to receive the first batch of five Rafale jets on July 27.
As part of its high level of vigilance, the IAF has also deployed Apache attack helicopters as well as Chinook heavy lift helicopters to transport troops to various advanced locations in eastern Ladakh.
The sources said that the Navy’s Poseidon 8I plane was deployed to monitor the movement of Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. The long-range anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft was also deployed to Doklam along the Sikkim border during the 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017.
The P-8Is were also deployed to monitor the movement of Pakistani troops after the terrorist attack on Pulwama last year.
In the middle of the border with China, the Indian Navy conducted a military exercise on Monday and Tuesday with a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the Andaman Islands and Nicobar.
Four Indian Navy frontline warships participated in exercise “PASSEX” as the US aircraft carrier strike group transited the Indian Ocean region (IOR) from the China Sea southern, officials said.
The USS Nimitz is the world‘s largest warship and the exercise between the two navies has grown in importance as it took place amid China’s renewed military assertion in eastern Ladakh as well as in the South China Sea.
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group includes the USS Nimitz, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson, officials said.
India carried out similar exercises with the Japanese Navy last month.
The Indian Navy has stepped up its surveillance missions and stepped up its operational deployment in the IOR following the bitter border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
The Indian Navy is also stepping up its operational cooperation with various friendly naval forces such as the United States Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, given the rapidly changing regional security landscape, officials said.
The navies of the United States, India, Australia, Japan and France have deepened their mutual cooperation within the IOR in light of China’s growing attempt to expand its military influence in the region rich in resources.
Following the escalation of tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh, the government has put the three forces on high alert. The Indian Navy has been asked to raise its alert level in the IOR where the Chinese Navy has regularly made inroads.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
