Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I has touched down in Darwin as the 16th edition of Australia’s premier multinational maritime warfare activity ‘Exercise Kakadu 2024’ kicked off on September 8.
Warships, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and personnel from over 30 nations are participating in the exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
“Svaagat India! The Indian Navy’s P-8I Poseidon has touched down in Darwin for Exercise Kakadu 2024. This year’s exercise will feature maritime patrol aircraft from five nations, warships from over 10 and more than 3,000 armed forces personnel,” the RAN posted on X, while welcoming the Indian contingent.
The last edition of the exercise, held in 2022, saw the participation of a P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian Navy along with INS Satpura – the frontline warship of the Eastern Fleet.
The theme for this year’s exercise is ‘Regional Cooperation through Trusted and Proven Partnerships’.
According to the Australian Defence Ministry, building on the success of 2022, this year’s exercise will feature a multinational Exercise Control element housed at RAAF Base Darwin to coordinate air, sea and subsurface activities across the full spectrum or maritime warfare from mission planning and constabulary operations up to high end anti-submarine warfare and air defence exercises.
Besides the at-sea exercise programme, the harbour phase will consist of briefings, a Fleet Commanders and Senior Leaders’ conference, ceremonies, and cultural, social and sporting events.
