INS Nilgiri reaches Sydney for fleet review

Indigenous stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of India’s Project 17A, has reached Sydney to take part in an international fleet review being hosted by the Royal Australian Navy to mark its 125th anniversary, officials said on Tuesday.

It reached Sydney on March 21 after the completion of phase one of Exercise Kakadu — Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) maritime multilateral drill, they said.

The visit marks a significant milestone in the ship’s overseas deployment and underscores the growing maritime cooperation between India and Australia, an Indian Navy spokesperson said.

INS Nilgiri’s deployment in the southern hemisphere and in the Western Pacific, alongside a multitude of foreign navies, highlights India’s growing role in building a secure, cooperative, and rules-based maritime order across the larger Indo-Pacific region, the Indian Navy said.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, would head the Indian delegation that will participate in various multilateral activities associated with RAN’s International Fleet Review (IFR).

Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, would represent the Indian Navy in the Fleet Commanders’ Conference as a part of the IFR.

During the port call, a series of professional and multilateral engagements are scheduled, aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, interoperability, and maritime collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, the spokesperson said.

As part of the visit, INS Nilgiri will participate in various professional discussions, exercise planning activities, subject matter expert exchanges, and sporting fixtures, the official said.

In the recently concluded IFR at Visakhapatnam in February this year, RAN was represented by HMAS Warramunga, an ANZAC-class frigate.

INS Nilgiri’s participation in RAN’s IFR is thus a symbol of “mutual respect and acknowledgement” of the growing partnership between the two navies, the spokesperson said.