In a historic moment, INS Sahyadri took centre stage as it actively participated in the maiden India-Indonesia-Australia trilateral maritime exercise with the ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy from 20 - 21 Sep 2023.  The impressive, indigenously destroyer INS Sahyadri proudly set out on a mission deployment in the Indo-Pacific area, showcasing the Indian Navy's accomplishment. This mission was of utmost strategic importance and represented India's dedication to establishing closer connections with the region and boosting maritime security.

The trilateral exercise gave the three maritime nations the opportunity to expand their collaboration and increase their combined capability to maintain an environment that is stable, peaceful, and secure throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise afforded the participating navies the chance to learn from one another's years of service and accumulated knowledge, which was another significant advantage.

“Complex tactical and manoeuvring exercises, cross-deck visits, and cross-deck landings of integral helicopters were conducted for the training of crew and enhancement of interoperability," the Navy said.

Commanded by the accomplished Capt. Rajan Kapoor, INS Sahyadri is a formidable vessel belonging to the Project-17 class of multirole stealth frigates—a testament to India's naval prowess and indigenous defense capabilities. Constructed at the renowned Mazagon Dock Ltd in Mumbai, this warship represents a remarkable achievement within India's defense industry.

The INS Sahyadri and other multirole stealth frigates of the Project-17 class are essential to India's effort to become self-sufficient in the production of defense goods. These versatile frigates are excellent at a variety of tasks, including anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air combat. They represent highly valuable assets in contemporary naval operations since they are outfitted with cutting-edge sensors, armament systems, and technologies.

INS Sahyadri is equipped with an astonishing assortment of weapons, including torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and a 76mm naval gun. The warship's ability to confront threats across many domains is provided by this weaponry, ensuring its prowess in both offensive and defensive naval operations. Additionally, its anti-submarine warfare suite, which includes cutting-edge sonar equipment and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, strengthens its ability to precisely detect and thwart undersea threats.

Image source: PIB