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New Delhi:

In a historical feat, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, aboard INSV Tarini, crossed Cape Horn, located at the southern tip of South America, on Saturday while sailing on the third leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition, said an Indian Navy statement.

The passage takes the two sailors through the Drake Passage, which is named after the English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who confirmed the existence of an open sea route south of South America. It is a treacherous waterway known for its extreme winds, towering waves and unpredictable weather, the statement added.

“Making their successful passage a significant achievement,” it further reads.

In persistent rains, Sea State 5, winds of 40kns (~75 kmph) and waves more than 5 metres, Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa A, recorded their names in the annals of history by successfully crossing the #CapeHorn located at the southern tip of #SouthAmerica, while sailing on the third… pic.twitter.com/N1isyvHGMA

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 15, 2025

The officers have now earned themselves the esteemed title of being the “Cape Horners,” a designation traditionally given to the elite group of seafarers who have successfully navigated Cape Horn under sail.

ALSO READ | 2 Indian Navy Women Officers Cross Point Nemo, Earth’s Most Remote Location

Cape Horn is situated just over 800 kilometres (432 nautical miles) from Antarctica, making it one of the closest land points to the icy continent. The journey through this region not only requires exceptional navigational expertise but also resilience to the harsh conditions characteristic of the Southern Ocean.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II represents a continuation of India’s efforts to support scientific exploration and collaboration. As the officers continue their journey, they will progress toward their next destination, further advancing the objectives of the mission.

Last year, Chief of the Naval Staff of India, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, flagged off INSV Tarini for Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition at Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi, Goa, on Wednesday.

The first-ever global circumnavigation onboard is to be completed by two women Naval Officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa, marking a significant event.

The historic voyage expedition will be covering four continents, through three Oceans and three challenging Capes in 240 days and travelling 23,400 nautical miles, scripting major milestone in maritime history and showcasing ‘Aatmanirbhar bharat’ initiative.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Two female officers from the Indian Navy touched a new milestone on Thursday as they crossed Point Nemo – the most remote location on Earth – aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, passed through Point Nemo at 12:30 am IST on Thursday during the third leg of their journey from Lyttelton, New Zealand, to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Notably, Point Nemo, located in the South Pacific, is the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility – the most remote location on Earth, situated approximately 2,688 kilometres from the nearest landmass.

This event marks a significant milestone in the Navika Sagar Parikrama II mission, a circumnavigation journey undertaken by the two officers as part of India’s naval exploration initiative, the Indian Navy said in a statement, as per ANI. “#INSVTarini charts through the world’s most isolated waters! Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa A cross Point Nemo – the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. A testament to resilience, courage & the spirit of adventure,” the Indian Navy wrote on X. 

#NavikaSagarParikrama_II#NSPIIUpdates#INSVTarini charts through the world’s most isolated waters!
Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa A cross Point Nemo – the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. A testament to resilience, courage & the spirit of adventure.
Fair winds & following… pic.twitter.com/CvcEegoAjF

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 30, 2025

During their passage, the two officers collected water samples from the area, which will be analysed by the National Institute of Oceanography. These samples are expected to provide valuable data on oceanic conditions, including marine biodiversity and the chemical composition of the water, contributing to ongoing oceanographic research, the Navy statement said.

Navika Sagar Parikrama II represents a continuation of India’s efforts to support scientific exploration and collaboration. As the officers continue their journey, they will progress toward their next destination, Port Stanley, further advancing the objectives of the mission, it added. 

The two officers from the Indian Navy embarked on a mission to circumnavigate the world on October 2, 2024. They began their journey aboard INVS Tarini from Goa. They reached Lyttelton Port in New Zealand on December 22, completing the second leg of the expedition. The crew then departed from Lyttelton earlier this month for the longest stretch of the journey, heading to Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The distance of this leg is about 5,600 nautical miles.

Also Read | Video Shows Women In Car Chased By Men In SUV In Chennai. Police Reacts

INSV Tarini’s passage through Point Nemo was achieved entirely under sail, which makes it a noteworthy accomplishment in terms of maritime navigation. The vessel’s crossing through this isolated point highlights the challenges of navigating such remote and difficult waters.

Notably, Point Nemo is known as the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. According to ANI, it is one of the most remote locations on Earth, situated approximately 2,688 kilometres from the nearest landmass. Due to its isolation, it is often considered the farthest point from any human habitation.

Point Nemo is a designated area where space agencies intentionally guide decommissioned spacecraft, including satellites and space stations, to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and fall into the ocean to avoid harm to populated areas.

New Delhi:

The details of a daring operation in low-light conditions by Indian forces to rescue 17 crew of a merchant ship near the Somalian coast was made public by the government while honouring the pilot who flew a C-17 military transport aircraft to carry out the high-risk mission.

Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, who was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in June 2006, was posted with the C-17 squadron from February 2021. On the eve of Republic Day, he was conferred the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) “for his act of indomitable courage and conspicuous gallantry”.

Wing Commander Saxena finalised suitable crew and ensured aircraft readiness for a quick launch due to the time critical and secret nature of the mission, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on January 25.

The mission involved real threat of small arms with the pirates over and above the extended mission timelines which involved flying into airspace of another country undeclared and undetected for close to four hours, the Defence Ministry said.

The mission was carried out on March 16, 2024 in support of the anti-piracy Operation Sankalp in the Arabian Sea.

Wing Commander Saxena airdropped two combat rubberised raiding craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 MARCOs with combat load to capture a pirate-controlled ship, which was not only launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea, but also opened fire at INS Kolkata and had shot down a naval spotter drone on March 15, 2024, the Defence Ministry said.

MARCOs are the special forces of the Indian Navy.

Wing Commander Akshay Saxena

The objective area was near the Somalian coast, 1,450 nautical miles (NM) and 540 NMs out of Indian flight information region.

One NM is approximately 1.8 km. Flight information region is a defined airspace of specific dimensions within which flight information and alerting services are provided; all airspace worldwide is divided into flight information regions.

Wing Commander Saxena, the Captain of the C-17 aircraft, decided to switch off all emitters, fly low level over high seas in foreign territory and drop at dusk time to avoid detection, the Defence Ministry said.

Even after receiving a changed drop location only 50 NMs prior to the drop, he guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop, thus resulting in the capture of the pirates and rescue of MV Ruen with its 17 member crew.

He displayed effective inter-service coordination with the Indian Navy while maintaining heightened situational awareness both on ground and in air, the Defence Ministry said, adding all possible measures were taken to maintain secrecy of the almost 10-hour-long mission.

During the flawless execution of the extremely gruelling mission, the officer displayed exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism and steadfast determination, the Defence Ministry said.

After stopovers in Goa and Kochi on India’s western coast, the entire French carrier strike group (CSG) centred around aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle cast off on 9 January 2025 for the next phase of Mission Clemenceau 25 in the Indian Ocean. It set the course for the Indonesian arc, where it would conduct the exercise ‘La Perouse’.

A few hours after setting sail, the CSG carried out cooperation activities with the Indian Navy at sea and in the air. The French CSG destroyer conducted a joint navigation exercise with the Indian frigate INS Mormugao, during which the two ships practised tactical evolution manoeuvres. The two ships also deployed their respective onboard helicopters to carry out a cross-decks manoeuvre, as per the statement.

Fleet replenishment tanker FNS Jacques Chevallier refuelled the INS Mormugao

After the first drill, the fleet replenishment tanker FNS Jacques Chevallier refuelled the INS Mormugao frigate at sea. At the same time, Indian Sukhoi and Jaguar fighter jets carried out sorties with Rafale Marines from the embarked French Navy air fleet for a joint anti-aircraft drill.

Sukhoi, SEPECAT Jaguar and French Rafales in action

On January 10, an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft made a logistical stopover in India before heading for Indonesia, where it joined the deployed French force. Thanks to the privileged relations between France and India, the halt of the in-transit Atlantique 2 on Indian territory enabled the CSG to deploy far away from its base and maintain its operations at sea.

The activities demonstrated the interoperability between the two navies. The joint manoeuvre came ahead of the 42nd edition of the bilateral naval exercise, VARUNA, which France and India have been holding since 1983. The CSG will take part in this annual bilateral exercise when it returns to the Indian Ocean under Mission CLEMENCEAU 25 and will deploy all its assets alongside its Indian partner.

For 27 years, France and India have been united by a strategic partnership

For 27 years, France and India have been united by a strategic partnership aimed at developing bilateral cooperation between our two countries. In concrete terms, this includes numerous exercises, be they on land (SHAKTI), in the air (GARUDA), or at sea (VARUNA). India regularly supports French Navy ships by allowing numerous stopovers for ships and crew rest (16 stopovers since 2022), the French Embassy said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

After stopovers in Goa and Kochi on India’s western coast, the entire French carrier strike group (CSG) centred around aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle cast off on 9 January 2025 for the next phase of Mission Clemenceau 25 in the Indian Ocean. It set the course for the Indonesian arc, where it would conduct the exercise ‘La Perouse’.

A few hours after setting sail, the CSG carried out cooperation activities with the Indian Navy at sea and in the air. The French CSG destroyer conducted a joint navigation exercise with the Indian frigate INS Mormugao, during which the two ships practised tactical evolution manoeuvres. The two ships also deployed their respective onboard helicopters to carry out a cross-decks manoeuvre, as per the statement.

Fleet replenishment tanker FNS Jacques Chevallier refuelled the INS Mormugao

After the first drill, the fleet replenishment tanker FNS Jacques Chevallier refuelled the INS Mormugao frigate at sea. At the same time, Indian Sukhoi and Jaguar fighter jets carried out sorties with Rafale Marines from the embarked French Navy air fleet for a joint anti-aircraft drill.

Sukhoi, SEPECAT Jaguar and French Rafales in action

On January 10, an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft made a logistical stopover in India before heading for Indonesia, where it joined the deployed French force. Thanks to the privileged relations between France and India, the halt of the in-transit Atlantique 2 on Indian territory enabled the CSG to deploy far away from its base and maintain its operations at sea.

The activities demonstrated the interoperability between the two navies. The joint manoeuvre came ahead of the 42nd edition of the bilateral naval exercise, VARUNA, which France and India have been holding since 1983. The CSG will take part in this annual bilateral exercise when it returns to the Indian Ocean under Mission CLEMENCEAU 25 and will deploy all its assets alongside its Indian partner.

For 27 years, France and India have been united by a strategic partnership

For 27 years, France and India have been united by a strategic partnership aimed at developing bilateral cooperation between our two countries. In concrete terms, this includes numerous exercises, be they on land (SHAKTI), in the air (GARUDA), or at sea (VARUNA). India regularly supports French Navy ships by allowing numerous stopovers for ships and crew rest (16 stopovers since 2022), the French Embassy said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Indian Navy on Tuesday provided urgently needed fuel to a Malaysian-flagged sailing vessel with five Chinese nationals onboard in the Indian Ocean. Indian naval ship INS Kirch provided 1,000 litres of fuel to the vessel, enabling it to safely resume its voyage to its next port of call, the Indian Navy said.

It said the Malaysian-flagged vessel with five Chinese nationals was reported to be running low on fuel on January 4.

Subsequently, the sailing vessel transiting 225 nautical miles west of Indira Point, sought fuelling assistance from Indian Navy through Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

“Responding swiftly, a surveillance aircraft was deployed to monitor the movement of sailing vessel and diverted mission deployed Indian Naval Ship Kirch to provide assistance,” the Navy said.

“INS Kirch on January 7 intercepted the vessel and provided 1000 litres of fuel, enabling the vessel to safely resume its voyage to its next port of call,” the Navy said in a statement.

“The Indian Navy remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure safety of all mariners in the Indian Ocean Region,” it said.

On #04Jan25, a Malaysian-flagged sailing vessel BIT with five Chinese nationals onboard was reported to be running low on fuel. Subsequently, the sailing vessel transiting 225 nautical miles west of Indira Point, sought fueling assistance from #IndianNavy through @IFC_IOR.… pic.twitter.com/HII4lsvLaV

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 7, 2025

Indira Point is the southernmost point of India in the eastern Indian Sea.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India’s Ministry of Defence signed two significant deals to greatly enhance its submarine fleet. While one of the deals was signed with France’s Naval Group, the larger of the two contracts was signed with Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The two contracts have a combined value of Rs 2,867 crore. While the contract with France’s Naval Group, worth Rs 877 crore, pertains to more advanced torpedo technology, the contract with Mazagon Dock, worth around Rs 1,990 crore, is over DRDO’s new indigenous submarine propulsion system.

“The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts, worth approximately Rs 2,867 crore, for the construction of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Plug for DRDO-AIP system and its integration onboard Indian submarines; and the integration of electronic heavy weight torpedo (EHWT) onboard the Kalvari-class submarines,” a ministry statement read.

DEAL WITH FRANCE’S NAVAL GROUP

The agreement is about the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo or EHWT.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the deal for the integration of EHWT onboard the Kalvari-class submarines will be a joint effort by the Indian Navy, the DRDO and Naval Group, France. “It will greatly augment the firepower capabilities of Kalvari-class submarines of the Indian Navy,” the defence ministry statement read.

According to the Naval Group, the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo, also known as the F21 Heavy Weight Torpedo, “successfully integrates the mastery of aluminum silver oxide technology, which greatly enhances the torpedo’s range and allows for much higher speed. This makes it a much more lethal weapon compared to other torpedoes”.

Another key feature of this torpedo is that “it is designed such that it can never explode on-board a submarine even if there is a fire on the platform, or if it is dropped of fired accidentally.”

DEAL WITH MAZAGON DOCK

The agreement is about an advanced Air Independent Propulsion or AIP system. The AIP technology is being indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO.

According to a statement by the defence ministry, “The project pertains to construction of AIP-Plug and its integration. It will enhance the endurance of conventional submarines and significantly contribute towards the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. It would generate employment of nearly three lakh man-days.”

Air Independent Propulsion is a marine technology which allows a conventional or non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. In other words, it allows the conventional submarine to stay submerged deep underwater without having to surface or use its snorkel for a much longer duration.

A snorkel, in submarine terminology, is a pipe that can reach the surface of the ocean while the submarine is at periscope depth to allow a proper air influx for the diesel engines. An AIP Plug can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear submarines. It is also called Air Independent Power as it allows for much longer underwater endurance.

Both agreements are under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which means the propulsion system as well as the torpedoes will be manufactured in India.
 

New Delhi:

India’s Ministry of Defence signed two significant deals to greatly enhance its submarine fleet. While one of the deals was signed with France’s Naval Group, the larger of the two contracts was signed with Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The two contracts have a combined value of Rs 2,867 crore. While the contract with France’s Naval Group, worth Rs 877 crore, pertains to more advanced torpedo technology, the contract with Mazagon Dock, worth around Rs 1,990 crore, is over DRDO’s new indigenous submarine propulsion system.

“The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts, worth approximately Rs 2,867 crore, for the construction of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Plug for DRDO-AIP system and its integration onboard Indian submarines; and the integration of electronic heavy weight torpedo (EHWT) onboard the Kalvari-class submarines,” a ministry statement read.

DEAL WITH FRANCE’S NAVAL GROUP

The agreement is about the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo or EHWT.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the deal for the integration of EHWT onboard the Kalvari-class submarines will be a joint effort by the Indian Navy, the DRDO and Naval Group, France. “It will greatly augment the firepower capabilities of Kalvari-class submarines of the Indian Navy,” the defence ministry statement read.

According to the Naval Group, the Electronic Heavy Weight Torpedo, also known as the F21 Heavy Weight Torpedo, “successfully integrates the mastery of aluminum silver oxide technology, which greatly enhances the torpedo’s range and allows for much higher speed. This makes it a much more lethal weapon compared to other torpedoes”.

Another key feature of this torpedo is that “it is designed such that it can never explode on-board a submarine even if there is a fire on the platform, or if it is dropped of fired accidentally.”

DEAL WITH MAZAGON DOCK

The agreement is about an advanced Air Independent Propulsion or AIP system. The AIP technology is being indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO.

According to a statement by the defence ministry, “The project pertains to construction of AIP-Plug and its integration. It will enhance the endurance of conventional submarines and significantly contribute towards the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. It would generate employment of nearly three lakh man-days.”

Air Independent Propulsion is a marine technology which allows a conventional or non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen. In other words, it allows the conventional submarine to stay submerged deep underwater without having to surface or use its snorkel for a much longer duration.

A snorkel, in submarine terminology, is a pipe that can reach the surface of the ocean while the submarine is at periscope depth to allow a proper air influx for the diesel engines. An AIP Plug can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear submarines. It is also called Air Independent Power as it allows for much longer underwater endurance.

Both agreements are under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which means the propulsion system as well as the torpedoes will be manufactured in India.
 

London:

INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, has docked in London on its first port of call during its maiden operational deployment.

Commodore Robert Bellfield, Royal Navy Commander London and Eastern England received the Indian Navy warship on behalf of the UK government on Sunday. He was received by Captain Peter Varghese, the Commanding Officer of the ship.

“An honour to welcome INS Tushil to London, for her first foreign visit. This occasion is a demonstration of the close relationship between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, our two nations, and our shared interests,” said Bellfield.

India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Sujit Ghosh, also paid a visit to the warship docked on the river Thames before it departs on Monday evening.

#INSTushil India’s latest guided missile stealth frigate arrived in #London, UK on #21Dec 24 on her maiden passage to #India marking a significant milestone in the growing naval cooperation between the #IndianNavy & @RoyalNavy.
The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and… https://t.co/4ROjrRT8pn pic.twitter.com/g0AdSIvlH6

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 23, 2024

The ship, built in Russia and commissioned on December 9 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, set sail from Kaliningrad on December 17.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the ship will traverse the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally, the Indian Ocean, making port calls at several friendly foreign countries along the way.

“The maiden deployment of INS Tushil would involve key charter of Indian Navy, namely, Diplomatic, military, and constabulary activities. The ship will carry out joint patrolling and maritime partnership exercises with a number of navies en route, including piracy hotspots in the region,” the ministry said.

During port calls, the ship will undertake capability-building activities with host Navies and hold interactions with senior military and government leadership. The port calls will also serve to engage with the Indian diaspora spread across the region.

The ministry added INS Tushil’s port calls and exercises are aimed at consolidating India’s maritime cooperation with littoral countries of the region and reinforcing Indian Navy’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the seafaring community.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)