Indian Navy has been conducting Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise or TROPEX-2015, off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea. 
Over 40 surface combatants of various classes including the two aircraft carriers -- Vikramaditya and Viraat (pictured above), submarines including the INS Chakra, a large number of aircraft and UAVs are participating in the exercise, which provides the Navy an opportunity to validate its concept of operations and integration of new acquisitions with the Fleet.
The two completely networked fleets of the Indian Navy -- the Eastern and the Western -- were kept widely dispersed across seas in the Indian Ocean, operating in a dense electronic environment to match their professional and technical proficiency.
New weapons, sensors, communication systems and tactics were being tested and tried to optimize the net combat power of the fleets. All operations were facilitated by a robust and seamless communication network, including satellite communications under the Navy's overall thrust on Network Centric Operations, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Digital India'.
The Navy demonstrated multiple facets of operations during the period which encompassed a variety of weapon firings, MiG 29K and Sea Harrier operations from the two aircraft carriers, integration of the P8I aircraft with fleet, and operations by the Navy’s Marine Commandos.
The successful and impressive vertical launch of the Brahmos, supersonic long range anti- shipping cruise missile, from the recently commissioned stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, was a major milestone in itself. This was particularly satisfying as the launch of the missile was an affirmation of our indigenous weapon capabilities.
30 NCC cadets from 8 Karwar NU NCC embarked onboard INS Mumbai and witnessed the operations. Two of these cadets also got an opportunity to be transferred at sea to INS Vikramaditya by ‘Jackstay’ – an evolution wherein ships transfer men and material between them.
The recently acquired MiG 29Ks proved their mettle by showing the STOBAR operations including the bombing runs.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who witnessed the first two days of the naval exercise first hand, checked the potency of the upgraded Sea Harriers particularly in the networked environment.
TROPEX 2015 will continue over the next few days. The successful missile launches and interceptions, uninterrupted seamless operations in a networked condition with BVR interceptions herald the emergence of a capable and potent 'future ready' Indian Navy.
