International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express

Why is in news? INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023

INS Trikand is participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) being held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 23.

She will exercise with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce.

IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world.

While this is Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marks the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship is participating in an exercise conducted by the Combined Maritime Forces.

Earlier, in Nov 22, INS Trikand had participated in the CMF led Operation Sea Sword 2.

Participation in exercises like Sea Sword 2 and IMX/CE-23 enables the Indian Navy in strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners in the IOR.

It also enables the Navy contribute constructively to regional stability and security.

Operation “Sea Sword 2” is the Combined Maritime Forces in the Northwest Arabian Sea. The operation was held to prevent narcotics trade & stop smuggling entities from using the seas for their nefarious activities.

INS Trikand:

INS Trikand (F51) is a Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy.

She is the third and final ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy.

She was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.

She was commissioned to Indian Navy service on 29 June 2013.

Trikand belongs to the Talwar class of guided missile frigates. These are modified Krivak III-class frigates built by Russia.

These ships use stealth technologies and a special hull design to ensure a reduced radar cross section.

Much of the equipment on the ship is Russian-made, but a significant number of systems of Indian origin have also been incorporated.

Talwar class frigate:

The Talwar-class frigates or Project 11356 are a class of stealth guided missile frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy.

The Talwar-class guided missile frigates are the improved versions of the Krivak III-class (Project 1135) frigates used by the Russian Coast Guard.

The Indian Navy currently has six of these ships and 4 more are under construction including 2 in an Indian shipyard, for which Goa shipyard was selected.

Batch 1: Talwar, Trishul, Tabar; Batch 2: Teg, Tarkash, Trikand; Batch 3: Tushil, Tamala; Batch 4 (Triput class): Triput, Unnamed