INS Rana participates in an exercise conducted with the Japanese Navy. Credit: US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gary Prill/Released.

The Indian Navy is reportedly set to take part in passes exercises with Russia on 4-5 September this year.

Set to be held in the Bay of Bengal, the exercise with follows India’s withdrawal from the Kavkaz military exercise, according to local media reports.

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Participants will include Russian Navy destroyers Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs, tanker Boris Butoma, and Indian platforms Ranvijay destroyer, Sahyadri frigate, Kiltan corvette and Shakti tanker.

The passes exercise will be conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ drill and follows the postponement of INDRA NAVY–2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic, reported ANI.

INDRA NAVY–2020 was planned to be carried out in Vladivostok, Russia.

India-Russia (INDRA) exercises between their armies, navy and air force started in 2005.

The last INDRA Tri-Services Exercise was held in December last year in India.

Currently, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a visit to Moscow from 3 to 5 September.

The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with its Carrier Strike Group (CSG), conducted a Passex with the Indian Navy.

In June, the Indian and Japanese navies reportedly conducted an exercise in the Indian Ocean amidst border tensions in Ladakh.

In July, the Indian Navy expanded its deployment of frontline warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).