HIGHLIGHTS:
- Exercise Paschim Lehar; The practice lasted for a total of twenty days.
- It was held to improve operational collaboration.
- The exercise involved more than 40 ships and submarines.
What is in the News?
The purpose of Exercise Paschim Lehar is to improve collaboration among the Indian Navy’s various naval commands. It also involves the Indian Army and Air Force. The exercise was recently held on the west coast.
Concerning the exercise
The practice lasted for a total of twenty days. It was held to improve operational collaboration between the Indian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. The Indian Navy’s western command took part in the exercise. Mumbai is home to the western command’s headquarters. Vishakhapatnam is home to the Eastern Naval Command’s headquarters. Kochi is home to the southern naval command’s headquarters.
2022 Paschim Lehar
- The exercise involved more than 40 ships and submarines. SU 30 MKI, flight refueling aircraft, and Jaguar maritime strike aircraft were also deployed by the Indian Air Force. Unmanned aerial systems, Dornier aircraft, P8i, MiG 29K, and IL 38 SD were also used by the IAF.
- After a long time, the Indian Navy’s air cushion vehicles took part in the exercise. The air defence batteries were also activated.
- The military operated in a realistic environment during the exercise. Weapon firings were also carried out in a variety of settings.
Significance
After a long hiatus, many Indian Navy ships and submarines took part in the drill. Fast Patrol Vessels and Offshore Patrol Vessels were among those involved. Under actual situations, all of the involved troops learned to work together. This is critical in order to maintain the force operation operational. The Western Naval Command’s operating plans were the main focus of the exercise.
Western Naval Command
Of the three naval commands, the Western Naval Command is the most senior. It is in charge of the forces stationed in the western Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. A three-star flag officer with the rank of Admiral leads the command. The main officer’s title is FOC in C, which stands for Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Command. The current FOC – in – C is Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh. In November 2021, he assumed command.
