Russia Plans Maritime Drills with Philippines
Russia sent its anti-submarine destroyer and a replenishment oiler to the Philippines in a bid to hold maritime exercises with the latter, according to various media reports. The two ships — Admiral Tributs, an anti-submarine vessel, and a sea tanker Boris Butoma — arrived in Manila on Tuesday, 3 January, on a four-day goodwill visit. According to AFP, Russia wants to hold maritime drills with the Philippines to help combat terrorism and piracy by sending two warships to Manila for the first official navy-to-navy contact. Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet, said they want to duplicate the exercises they were holding with other Southeast Asian countries by holding bilateral training here or in Moscow with Filipino sailors.
Russian-Indian Indra Drills On
India and Russia has began their bilateral naval exercise, Indra Navy, which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two Navies and developing common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations. Indra Navy is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Russian navies and epitomises the strategic relationship between the two countries. Russian and Indian warships have left the naval base in the city of Visakhapatnam in India’s south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh, starting the second - active - phase of the 8th joint naval exercise Indra that ends on December 12. The primary aim of the 8th edition of 'Indra Navy' exercise series is to increase interoperability between the two Navies and develop common unders.
Russian Naval Unit Active in Pacific
Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit consisting of destroyer 'Admiral Panteleyev', oiler 'Boris Butoma', and rescue tug 'Fotiy Krylov' continue exercises. The Russian ships had been taking part in RIMPAC-2012 off the Hawaii islands. The ships exercised various shipborne drills and near the 11- hour time zone replenished fuel and fresh water from the supporting oiler Boris Butoma. Afterwards the crew of Admiral Panteleyev and her attached marine unit held a small-arms firing drill. The Russian Navy's task unit will call at Japanese port Maizuru on Aug 28.
Russian Navy to Join RIMPAC Exercises
A Pacific Fleet task unit comprising destroyer Admiral Panteleyev, tanker Boris Butoma, and seagoing rescue tug Fotiy Krylov will leave Vladivostok in June and set a course for Hawaii. According to the exercise scenario, it is planned to practice interaction amid naval assets from numerous countries. The RIMPAC exercise has been held every two years since 1971. The first exercise was attended by ships of the US, Canada, and Australia, and this year RIMPAC will incorporate 45 ships from 22 countries. Formerly, Russia delegated only Pacific Fleet officers as exercise observers.
