The fifth edition of the 11-day IBSAMAR naval exercise between Brazil, India and South Africa is currently underway off the coast of Goa.  The Naval Exercise kicked off on February 19 in Goa and will culminate on February 29. This is the first time that IBSAMAR is being conducted in Indian waters, with all its previous editions being held off the coast of South Africa.

The primary aim of IBSAMAR, a series of naval exercises between three navies, is to increase interoperability amongst them as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security security operations.

While the Brazilian navy is represented by its naval ship ‘Amazonas’ with embarked special forces under the command of Cdr Alessander Felipe Imamura Carneiro, the South African naval ship ‘SAS Spioenkop’ with integral helicopter and embarked special forces.

Indian side has ‘INS Mumbai’ an indigenous destroyer, ‘INS Trishul’ a stealth frigate and ‘INS Shalki’, a Shishukumar class submarine. In addition to various fast attack crafts, sea harriers and Mig 29K fighter aircraft, Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and integral rotary wing helicopter will take part in the exercise.