Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) The Indian and the US navies conducted a joint exercise PASSEX in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(2) The Exercise involved the USS Nimitz and units of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and Andaman and Nicobar Command.
Of the above correct statement/s is/are:
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1&2
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- The Indian and the US navies on July 20,2020conducted a joint exercise PASSEX in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The Passage Exercise near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands involved the United States’ Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by aircraft carrier Nimitz and units of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- The CSG recently concluded its operational deployment along with another aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the South China Sea and had crossed the Strait of Malacca on to pass through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Fleet involved:
- The warships in the Nimitz Carrier(world’s largest aircraft carrier) Strike Group consisted of flagship USS Nimitz, guided missile cruiser USS Princeton, and guided missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson.
- Indian Navy ships INS Rana (Destroyer), stealth frigates Sahyadri and Shivalik and Kamorta (anti-submarine Corvettes) participated in the Passage Exercise.
PASSEX Exercise:
- PASSEX is a passage exercise.
- The ‘Passage Exercise’ includes a shorter form of interaction where the two sides have established interoperability.
- The maneuvers carried out in such an exercise involve a simulated environment.
- The Indian Navy has conducted similar PASSEX with Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and French Navy.
By-Amar Mani Upadhyay