INDRA-2007 is a biennial Russian-Indian exercise aimed at practicing cooperative engagement in the fight against terrorism. It is the third such exercise since 2003.
Russia is represented by two large anti-submarine ships, a missile boat, a diesel submarine, a group of mine-sweepers, a tanker, two tug boats, two Ka-27 Helix helicopters, and an Il-38 May maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The Indian naval group comprises three missile destroyers, a missile corvette and a tanker.
The live-fire exercise will include air defense and anti-submarine warfare maneuvers. The naval groups will also rehearse operations to enforce the law of the sea and counter piracy, terrorism, and drug smuggling.
Military cooperation between the two nations goes back nearly 50 years, with India accounting for about 40% of Russian arms exports. Eighty percent of India's Armed Forces, the second- largest in the region, are equipped with Russian weaponry.
The countries have signed a host of arms deals, including most recently an agreement on the transfer of Russian technology to build RD-33 jet engines in India and to develop a military transport plane together - seen as a move to secure a contract for 126 MiG-35 jet fighters against the backdrop of fierce competition from the U.S., Sweden and France.
