INS Sindhukesari in Indonesia

• The Kilo class conventional submarine of the Indian Navy, INS Sindhukesari, has docked in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the first time.
• An Indian Navy Kilo class conventional submarine, INS Sindhukesari, made its first port call in Jakarta, Indonesia, from February 22 to 24, 2023, as part of the region's growing military relations.
• It crossed the Sunda Strait and made its first docking attempt in Indonesia for an operational turnaround (OTR).

Evolution:

• India's Look East Strategy was established in 1992 with the primary goal of reuniting India with its neighbours in South East Asia on an economic and cultural level.
• Increasing trade connections have led to the relationship's extension into the fields of security and defense.
• When Act East Policy was implemented in 2014, the relationship, which had initially been purely political and economic, had taken on a strategic component.

What is the Indian Navy's current conventional submarine strength?

• The Indian Navy currently operates 16 conventional submarines, including 5 French Scorpene class submarines, 4 German HDW submarines, and 7 Soviet Kilo-class submarines.
• A Medium Refit cum Life Certification (MRLC) program is being implemented to extend the lifespan of the Kilos and HDWs, which are aging.
• In 2018, the MRLC was performed at Severodvinsk, Russia, on the INS Sindhukesari, which had been commissioned in February 1989.
• Sindhurakshak was lost in an accident, Sindhuvir was transferred to Myanmar, and Sindhudhvaj was retired in July 2020 after 35 years of service out of the original 10 Kilo class submarines purchased from Russia.
• In the meantime, the INS Sindhukirti of the Kilo class arrived at Visakhapatnam's Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).

India’s exercises with Asian countries:

• Institutional measures, joint exercises, training exchanges, and the provision of defense equipment are the main categories of defense cooperation with ASEAN nations.

Exchanges Of Training and Joint Exercises:

• India conducts combined naval drills with ASEAN nations like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Bilateral Training:

• India undertakes IND-INDO CORPAT and IND-INDO BILAT with Indonesia.
• India conducts Exercise Table Top with Malaysia.
• India manages IMCOR with Myanmar
• India undertakes SIMBEX Multi-Lateral Exercises with Singapore.

India takes part in the subsequent multilateral exercises.

• Brunei's Multilateral Exercise =ADMM+ Exercise
• Indonesia's KOMODO multilateral exercise and
• India's MILAN multilateral exercise

Defence Exports:

• South East Asian nations received at least half of India's defense exports between 2017 and 2021.
• Recent transactions like the $375 million sale of Brahmos missiles between India and the Philippines, as well as the sale of a remote-controlled air defense station to Myanmar for $600,000, portray India as a dependable security provider for the countries of South East Asia.

India ASEAN Co-Operation :

Checks Chinese Dominance: India will be in a better position against the backdrop of China's advancements in the South China Sea if there is maritime cooperation in terms of connectivity, safety, and security.

Indo-Pacific and Act East Policy:

• With ASEAN at its center, the Indo-Pacific region is a connected geographical region.
• The Indo-Pacific Market for India's Defense Exports is fundamentally built on openness, inclusivity, rules-based order, freedom of navigation, and peaceful resolution of disputes, according to both ASEAN and India.
• India has experienced a 334 percent increase in its defence exports over the previous five years, and south east Asian countries are a significant market for our goods.

What is INS Sindhukesari?

• The Sindhughosh-class submarines are constructed in Russia and include INS Sindhukesari.
• Before being renovated in 2018, the submarine was initially commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1989.
• Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines are Sindhughosh class submarines. The submarines can carry 3,000 tonnes of weight.

Way Forward

• Up till this point, India has pursued both bilateral and multilateral collaboration with ASEAN nations.
• India ought to look into possibilities for developing trilateral cooperation on defense and strategic concerns.