Indigenously built stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri , which is participating in RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise), the world’s largest international maritime exercise, has been adjudged runner-up in an innovation competition during the harbour phase of the exercise.
The 26th edition of RIMPAC, hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), commenced in the middle of last week off the Hawaii coast with the participation of about 25,000 personnel and more than 45 surface ships and submarines from 25 countries.
“ INS Sahyadri presented the ‘idea of integrating yoga into our daily life as technology for well-being during extended deployments for ships’. The topic essentially brought out the innovative ways in which the ship is using yoga to ensure good health and high morale of personnel on-board during this deployment,” a Navy officer said on Sunday.
The officer added that it was appreciated by representatives of participating countries.
INS Sahyadri had earlier participated in trilateral Malabar war games with Japan and the U.S. off the Coast of Guam, and then sailed to Hawaii to join RIMPAC.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was to visit the exercise, will give it a miss. She was scheduled to take part in the 2+2 dialogue in Washington along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on July 6 and then visit RIMPAC. However, with the dialogue postponed, her trip too stands cancelled.
Indian Navy said in a statement that its participation in RIMPAC 2018 provides a platform for multilateral operational interactions, and is aimed at increased inter-operability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.
Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a statement that RIMPAC shows that “like-minded nations who value a free and open Indo-Pacific want this opportunity to improve our co-operation with each other.”
While Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam joined RIMPAC for the first time, China is absent this year as it was dis-invited from participating by the U.S., citing China’s military actions in the South China Sea. China participated in the exercise in 2014 and 2016.
