India’s three warships arrived at Haifa Port Tuesday, and during their stay the ships & crew will engage extensively with the Israel Navy, including in both professional and social engagements, marking 25 years of diplomatic ties.
Three Indian Navy warships arrived at Haifa Port on Monday for a three-day visit as part of that nation’s overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and West Coast of Africa.
The ships, from the Mumbai- based Indian Navy Western Naval Command, are: the INS Mumbai, a guided-missile destroyer; INS Trishul, a stealth-missile frigate; and INS Aditya, a tanker.
Indian Naval warships docked at Haifa port – Photo- Anna Ahronheim
The task group is headed by R.-Adm. R.B. Pandit, the flag officer commanding the Western Fleet, who is flying his flag on the Mumbai.
The ships arrived on Tuesday and during their stay will engage extensively with the Israel Navy, including both professional and social engagements.
Naval vessels from both countries participated in a joint drill when the Indian ships entered into Israeli waters.
INDIAN NAVY SHIPS DOCK IN HAIFA PORT AHEAD OF HISTORICAL VISIT BY INDIAN PM – Photo: ANNA AHRONHEIM
Israel and India are celebrating 25 years of bilateral diplomatic ties this year, with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi scheduled for the first visit by an Indian PM to Jerusalem this summer to highlight that growing relationship.
“The India-Israel defense relationship is on a very firm foundation. Geographically we are not close but we have shared interests to countering threats that can come from the maritime domain,” Pandit said aboard the Trishul.
“We have benefited from defense technologies, and a number of significant defense acquisitions have been made from Israel,” referring to the Barak-8, which he said “provides the Indian Navy new and greater air-defense capabilities.”
RELATED:
- CONFIRMED: India’s PM Modi to make historic first state visit to Israel
- Israel Aerospace Industries signs historic $2Billion missile deal with India
- Hindustan Times: Israel assisting India’s efforts to augment nuclear capabilities
“The Barak-8 is a strong manifestation of the Israel-India defense partnership and it is a joint venture between our two nations,” Pandit said. “The Barak-8 has been fitted on three Indian Naval ships and is fully operational.”
Bilateral trade and economic relations have progressed rapidly in the past two decades, with a significant increase in the past year.
Defense trade between the two countries has averaged sales of more than $1 billion annually over the last five years, including the long-range surface- to-air missile, or Barak-8 naval air defense system, which was jointly developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries.
R.-Adm. R.B. Pandit, on the INS Mumbai, docked at Haifa port, Israel. – Photo: Anna Ahronheim
Israel has supplied India with various weapons systems, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles over the last few years, making India one of the largest buyers of Israeli military hardware.
In April, IAI signed a $2b. contract to provide the Indian Army with advanced defense systems, the largest ever for Israel’s defense industry.
View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Indian-Navy-ships-dock-in-Haifa-port-ahead-of-historical-visit-by-Indian-PM-490336
____________________________________________________________
ABOUT the Author:
Anna Ahronheim
Anna Ahronheim received her BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a focus in Law from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada and her MA in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security at the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzilya, Israel.
Anna Ahronheim lives in Israel working as the Defense Correspondent for The Jerusalem Post as well as a security consultant for Buzzfeed for projects in various conflict zones including Syria and Iraq.
Click to Read More Articles by Anna Ahronheim
Follow Anna Ahronheim on FACEBOOK to view more photos.
Follow Anna Ahronheim on Twitter at: @AAhronheim
Israeli New Shekel Exchange Rate