The Ninth Edition of Indian Navy and Royal Omani Navy Exercise Started

The ninth edition of Indian Navy and Royal Omani Navy biennial exercise Naseem Al Bahr started on 23 September 2013 in Omen.

Indian Naval Ships participating were Indian Naval Ship(INS) Mysore (guided missile destroyer), INS Tarkash , INS Tabar (stealth frigates) and INS Aditya (fleet tanker) under the Command of the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla.

The Royal Omani Navy Ships participating were Royal Navy of Oman Vessels (RNOV) missile and gun vessels, RONV Al Muazzar, RONV Al Mussandam, RONV Al Naja and a Landing ship RNOV Temsah, along with Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft F-16, Hawks and Jaguars amongst others.

The scope and content of Naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr 2013  

The scope and content of Naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr 2013  includes Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Anti Air Warfare, Air Operation, Advanced Helo Operations and Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO).

About Indian Navy –Royal Navy of Omen exercise

• The first Indian Navy-Royal Navy of Oman exercise conducted in 1993.This year marks 20 years of Indian Navy and Roayal Navy of Omen bilateral exercises.
• Naseem Al Bahr 2013 will be the ninth edition of the biennial bilateral exercise between the two navies of India and Omen.
• Indian Navy –Royal Navy of Omen exercise is aimed at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of both navies of India and Omen.

About India and Omen bilateral relations

• India and Oman are linked by geography, history and culture. There is evidence of people-to people contacts dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) and in later times, links with the Gujarat and Malabar coasts.
• Bilateral relation between Indian and Oman were formally established in 1953 with the Indo-Oman Treaty of friendship, Navigation and Commerce. It was the first treaty between India and any Arab country.
• Naval exercises have contributed to strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Oman.
• The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation in December2005 and establishment of the Joint Military Cooperation in March 2006 has set the foundation for increased defence cooperation.
• Naval cooperation between the countries has progressed steadily with increased port visits by naval ships and training of RNO personnel by the Indian Navy in hydrography, diving, training management, logistics management and dockyard management.