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About 70 Russian warships on constant combat duty in oceans — Navy

A detachment of the Pacific Fleet warships led by the flagship — Varyag missile cruiser — is preparing for the active phase of Russian-Indian manoeuvres Indra 2015 that will begin on December 10

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. About 70 warships of the Russian Navy are on constant combat duty in different areas of the World Ocean, chief of the Navy’s combat training department Rear-Admiral Viktor Kochemazov said on Tuesday.

"Some 70 warships of the Russian Navy are practically constantly present in the World Ocean to designate and fulfil the tasks set by the command," he told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

The St. Andrew's flag on surface ships "is now present almost everywhere", he said.

"As for the Mediterranean basin, we have the operational task force there, ships of the Northern Fleet are practically constantly present in the Arctic region — both in the eastern and in the western zones. Also, ships of the Pacific Fleet that during the year are on combat duty in the Gulf of Aden, are present in the Indian Ocean," Kochemazov said.

He said that a detachment of the Pacific Fleet warships led by the flagship — Varyag missile cruiser — is preparing for the active phase of Russian-Indian manoeuvres Indra 2015 that will begin on December 10.

Exercise Indra 2015 started on December 7 and will end on December 12. At present, the onshore phase is underway, with boarding teams having completed a combined training session onboard the Boris Butoma and Shakti tankers. The active phase of the exercise is planned for December 10-12 in the Bay of Bengal. It will include the practicing of antisubmarine operations and a live-fire exercise involving surface and aerial targets. The scenario also provides for assault teams supported by helicopters to reclaim a ship seized by simulated terrorists.

The Indian Navy has furnished the Shivalik-class Sahyadri multirole frigate, Soviet-built Project 61-ME Nadyozhny-class Ranvir destroyer, Shakti tanker carrying the combined exercise-directing staff, Project 877EKM Sindhuvir diesel-electric submarine, a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol plane, a Dornier Do-228 coast guard plane, two BAE Systems Hawk Mk132 trainers and several helicopters for the exercise.

The Russian Navy has dispatched the Project 1164 (NATO reporting name: Slava-class) Varyag guided missile cruiser, Project 956 (Sovremenny-class) Bystry destroyer, Boris Butoma oceangoing tanker and Alatau rescue tug to participate in Indra 2015.