With 75 Warships, Indian Navy Shows Off Strength At Biggest-Ever Event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accompanied President Mukherjee, the supreme commander of the armed forces, on board the Presidential Yacht 'INS Sumitra' as he reviewed the fleet.

Speaking after the review, President Mukherjee said the event has brought together navies from across the globe, signifying "our common desire to use the seas to promote peace, cooperation and friendship."

The second edition of the International Fleet Review kicked off on Thursday. The five-day event has brought together 50 countries, 99 ships, 24 foreign warships and 4,000 sailors.

With the President and the PM on board, the 'INS Sumitra' sailed through a display of ships at the anchorage off Visakhapatnam. The President also reviewed the Indian naval air arm's spectacular fly-past, comprising of 15 formations of 45 aircraft.

In the final stage of the review, a mobile column of warships and submarines streamed past the Presidential Yacht. This display showcased latest acquisitions of the Indian Navy.

The list of participating navies includes the US, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, Russia, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

The event was surrounded by grave security concerns, partly because of the deadly terror attack last month at the Pathankot air force base in Punjab, where seven military personnel were killed.

Sources in the Navy said a special concern was the threat of asymmetric warfare - the danger of a terror attack launched from small, fast boats.

The Navy had formed an elaborate matrix of defense with submarines, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and fast interceptor boats armed with heavy machine guns.

The first edition of the event was held off Mumbai in 2001. 29 countries had participated then.