In view of the activities of pirates in recent times, India has increased vigilance in the sea. The Indian Navy has deployed more than 10 warships, including commandos, for maritime surveillance and increasing its presence in the North and Central Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The Gulf of Aden is the same area where Yemen is on one side and Somalia is on the other. Indian warships will monitor till the Gulf of Aden.
According to the report, this unprecedented ‘Advanced Maritime Security Operation’ is being conducted independently by India. India has avoided joining the US-led multinational ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ launched in the Red Sea in December following attacks on civilian and military ships by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Recently, pirates had tried to hijack two large commercial ships in the same area. Now India’s war fleet will not only monitor this area through drones but will also be able to give a befitting reply to any unexpected action.
According to senior officials, this vital sea route was threatened by increasing piracy and drone attacks on commercial ships. Due to this, there has already been a big jump in freight prices. Therefore, the Indian Navy has decided to maintain a ‘persistent presence’ in the Arabian Sea and conduct more rigorous surveillance than before.
Indian warships have been deployed across the region to enhance surveillance and deterrence against the twin threats of pirates and drone attacks, the report quoted the official as saying. Its objective is to stabilize the situation in the Arabian Sea and help promote maritime security.
Regular ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions in the Arabian Sea are also being flown by P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and unarmed MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones, the report said. Both of them are capable of providing ‘live feed’ of high-resolution imagery from the west coast with their electro-optic and other advanced sensors.
According to the report, the warships deployed in the Arabian Sea include guided missile destroyers like INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai and INS Mormugao as well as multi-role warships like INS Talwar and INS Tarkash. The Navy and Coast Guard are also well coordinating enhanced surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
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