The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability

Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer INS Kochi exercised with Russian Federation Navy ship Admiral Tributs in the Arabian Sea on Friday.

The exercise showcased cohesiveness and interoperability between the two navies and included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck helicopter operations and seamanship activities, India's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. India and Russia have an institutionalized structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military technical cooperation.

The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), set up in 2000, is at the apex of this structure. The two Defence Ministers meet annually, alternately in Russia and India, to discuss and review the status of ongoing projects and other issues of military technical cooperation.

Joint exercises between the two Armed Forces are held under the title "INDRA". In the year 2021, joint exercises of the Army, Navy and Air force were conducted.

The India- Russia Joint Statement issued following the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 21st India-Russia Summit on December 6 last year included a special section on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation.

“Military and military-technical cooperation has traditionally been the pillar of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia,” the Joint Statement had said.

“Responding to India’s quest for self-sufficiency, the partnership is reorienting presently to joint research and development, co-development and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems,” it had added.

Both sides had expressed satisfaction with regular military contacts and joint exercises of the Armed Forces of the two countries which reached unprecedented heights this year with three exercises being held within a span of 60 days, besides simultaneous participation of a large Indian contingents in the International Army Games.

“The Russian Side deeply appreciated participation of INS Tabar in the 325th Russian Navy Day celebrations,” the statement said.

“The sides agreed to continue and expand regular defence dialogue, mutual training and exercises, subject matter expert exchanges and other activities under the aegis of India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation,” the statement added.