Australia to join India in maritime surveillance Activity Underway In Indian Ocean Region
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft has deployed to India under a combined India-Australia maritime surveillance initiative. Australia operates a total of 14 of these aircrafts. Whereas Indian Navy now operates 18 of these aircrafts. Together they become a very formidable number from which no ship big or small of the Chinese Navy can hide within the Indian Ocean Region and later in the Indo Pacific.
India and Australia will conduct activities in the Indian Ocean Region to build operational maritime domain awareness, practise anti-submarine warfare manoeuvres and bolster military interoperability.
This builds upon the successful deployment of an Indian P-8I aircraft to Darwin in April this year, when India and Australia undertook coordinated maritime patrols in Northern Australia for the first time.
Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Air Vice Marshal Michael Kitcher, said that this maritime surveillance activity paved the way for deeper and more sophisticated operational cooperation between India and Australia.
“India is one of our closest security partners and this activity demonstrates the strength of our bilateral defence relationship, the tangible value of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and our shared commitment to an open, secure and prosperous Indo‑Pacific.”
“This is an important opportunity for Indian and Australian squadrons to enhance their tactical skills, conduct information-sharing exchanges and further strengthen combined capabilities.”
