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The SLINEX navy exercise was conducted between Sri Lanka and India in the Bay of Bengal. It was a bilateral exercise, with four ships and two aircraft from Sri Lanka participating alongside two ships and one P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft from India. The exercise included both harbour and sea phases at sea. The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations to safeguard the maritime interests of the two countries. The Seeking 42B helicopter performed a search and rescue operation during the harbour phases, dropping a life raft from 100 feet onto a ship’s deck. The harbour phase also included surface firings with the Oto Melara 76 mm gun mount that fired three rounds. An advanced light helicopter also demonstrated a simulated attack on an enemy ship using rockets.
Sri Lanka Maritime Exercise SLINEX
Sri Lanka Maritime Exercise (SLINEX) is a bi-annual multi-national maritime exercise conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy since 2007, with the participation of other countries from the Indian Ocean region. The exercise will be held from November 18 to December 2 and includes the participation of ships, aircraft, and personnel from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United States.
The SLINEX series of exercises were first conceived as a military training exercise to improve interoperability between the navies of the participating nations. The U.S. Navy ship USS Chung-Hoon was requested to participate in surveillance operations in the Gulf of Mannar region during the exercise on November 19–21, 2009. The ship was joined by a P-3C Orion aircraft of Patrol Squadron (VP) 41 and an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 3, which flew out of Trincomalee Naval Base on November 19 to provide anti-submarine coverage for the U.S. vessel. This marked the first time a U.S. naval vessel visited Sri Lanka since diplomatic relations were severed following the 1983 Black July riots.
About SLINEX
SLINEX, an Indian Ocean-wide maritime exercise, is underway in Sri Lanka. It involves personnel from both the Indian Navy and the Sri Lankan Navy.
In addition to the two navies, Sri Lanka’s Coast Guard and Air Force participated in the exercise.
The exercise commenced on November 2nd and will last until November 20th. It involves various types of ships and aircraft, including frigates, corvettes, minesweepers, offshore patrol vessels, fast attack crafts, amphibious warfare vessels, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters. The U.S., China, and Japan have been invited to observe the exercise from the sidelines.
In addition to military training exercises at sea, SLINEX includes a humanitarian assistance component. The visiting ships are scheduled to visit ports around Sri Lanka for public relations activities.
What Exercises Will be Conducted Under Both The Phases?
Although the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue has been resolved, the Indian Navy is still in dire need of modernisation and upgrading. The SLINEX Navy Exercise between Sri Lanka and India will be conducted in three phases. The first phase, which is scheduled to begin on November 2nd, 2016, will include a tabletop exercise followed by a sea exercise. Under the tabletop exercise, two committees will discuss the issues about the maritime security of the maritime region and peacekeeping operations. The sea exercise will include search and rescue operations, surface and the underwater firing of lightweight torpedoes, joint helicopter operations, and aircraft carrier operations. This year’s Slinex exercise will focus on joint training and cooperation among all participating navies.
During the second phase of the Slinex navy exercise in 2017, both India and Sri Lanka will conduct an air defence exercise focusing on air surveillance and interception of incoming aircraft. The final phase in 2018 will involve a joint amphibious landings operation to combat terrorism and piracy.
Significance of India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise
The significance of the India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise is that it enhances the defence preparedness of both countries and develops interoperability between the two militaries. The exercise will be conducted in an environment free from threat, risk, or danger and fully respect international law and norms. The exercise provides a platform for both navies to share best practices and enhance interoperability in mutual interest areas. Exercises such as these enable our armed forces personnel to operate in a challenging environment, enhance their skills, improve their cooperation and increase their understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques, and procedures. Participation by both navies in this exercise will result in a greater understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques, and procedures which will help augment existing bilateral naval cooperation between the two countries. It will also help develop confidence and trust between the two nations, which are important in building a strong strategic partnership between India and Sri Lanka.
Conclusion
India and Sri Lanka have been holding an annual bilateral maritime exercise, “SLINEX” (Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise), since 2004. It has taken place every year, bar one. The exercise aims to increase cooperation between the two navies and enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime security operations and humanitarian relief. The exercise began as a bilateral venture, but since 2008 it has been conducted with representatives from several other countries—Bangladesh, Maldives, Thailand, and Mauritius to make it more multilateral.
