The Indian multirole stealth frigate INS Shivalik Saturday reached Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to take part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. The exercise is the world’s largest naval exercise and will see participation from 29 countries.
INS Shivalik sailed into Pearl Harbour after the completion of the JIMEX 24 exercise, which was a bilateral exercise between India and Japan.
The harbour phase of the RIMPAC exercise is to last until 7 July, during which ships will participate in symposium, planning discussions, sports competitions, and mutual deck visits. The sea phase of the RIMPAC exercise is divided into three sub-phases, with the first two phases focusing on basic and advanced level integration exercises.
The exercise will conclude with a theatre-level large-force tactical exercise.
RIMPAC-24 is a multidimensional exercise that provides a unique training opportunity for participants and fosters cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and the security of the world’s oceans, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement.
It added that INS Shivalik’s participation in RIMPAC-24 is a testament to the Indian Navy’s capability to operate in any part of the world. The 6000-tonne guided missile stealth frigate is an indigenous design and built.