Indian Navy Deploys Guided Missile Destroyers, Tankers And Drone To Combat Middle-Eastern Threats

Indian Navy's beefed-up security measures are coming amid the attacks by Iranian proxies, particularly the Houthis, who are aiming for the vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea against Israel’s war against Sunni Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 28 December 2023 1:04 pm

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In light of the heightened possibilities of Middle Eastern threats by Iranian proxies, the Indian Navy has now mobilized five frontline guided missile destroyers alongside a logistics tanker, Boeing P 8 I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and long endurance Sea Guardian drone. Reportedly, the step has been taken in a bid to keep the sea lanes of communication between Bab el-Mandeb to Indian coast safe for merchant shipping.

The beefed-up security measures are coming amid the attacks by Iranian proxies, particularly the Houthis, who are aiming for the vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea against Israel’s war against Sunni Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.

5 guided missile destroyers deployed

As per reports, Indian Navy so far has deployed INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai and INS Visakhapatnam into the Arabian theatre independent of the US led coalition in the Middle-East region.

While INS Kolkata is guarding the mouth of Red Sea, INS Kochi is placed at south of Yemen Socotra Island, INS Mormugao is in west Arabian sea with Chennai in Central Arabian sea.

INS Visakhapatnam was tasked to patrol the north Arabian sea and left the Indian coast two days ago after an Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 hit chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto 210 nautical miles off Dwarka in Gujarat.

It has been told that the five frontline destroyers are being fueled by a 25,000 ton oil tanker M V Swarnamala which is currently hired by the Indian Navy.

Coast guard in action as well

To add to the Indian Navy effort, the Coast Guard is also patrolling the EEZ on the western coast with offshore patrol vessels and Dornier surveillance aircraft to ensure that there is no suspicious activity on the Indian coastline and the Arabian Sea.

Besides the missile destroyers, the Boeing P 8 I multi-mission aircraft along with long endurance Sea Guardian drone are constantly monitoring the vessels in the Arabian Sea and up to the Gulf of Aden to identify suspicious ships and dhows used for targeting the commercial shipping by the Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq and by Tehran.