India-Indonesia conduct naval Exercise Samudra Shakti

• Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy are taking part in a bilateral maritime exercise, known as ‘Samudra Shakti’.
• The two-day exercise is being held near to Sunda Strait from 20 to 22 September.
• This is the third edition of Samudra Shakti, which aims to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies and bolster friendship bonds across the Indo Pacific.

INS Shivalik and Kadmatt to participate

• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmat are the latest indigenously designed and built Multi-Role Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively.
• They will be participating in the exercise with Indonesian Navy.
• Both the ships are part of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy based at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command.
• The Indian Navy's Anti-Submarine Warfare Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P-8I is also participating in the exercise.
• The Indonesian Navy is represented by KRI Bang Tomo, KRI Malahati and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft CN-235.

Efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation

• In accordance with India's Act East policy, Exercise 'Samudra Shakti' was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise.
• The exercise has advanced significantly in terms of complexity over the last two editions and will involve conducting complex maritime operations.
• This will include Military Interdiction Operations (MIOs), Cross Deck Landings, Air Defense Serials, Practice Weapon Firing, Replenishment Approaches and Tactical Maneuvers.
• Under the existing policies, the third edition of exercise 'Samudra Shakti' seeks to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two navies and forge stronger bonds of friendship across the Indo-Pacific.