By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, January 23
A six-day-long largest biennial tri-Services amphibious exercise “AMPHEX- 2023” held from January 17 to January 22, on a beach near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh was concluded on Sunday.
The joint operations conducted during the exercise saw participation by a large number of troops from Indian Army, amphibious warships from Indian Navy and aircraft from the Indian Air Force.
“AMPHEX- 2023” included complex activities in all domains that demonstrated and validated the high level of preparedness and excellent coordination between the three Services to undertake the full spectrum of amphibious operations.
The exercise was conducted with the aim of validating India’s capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrity of the island territories. It was aimed at enhancing the operational synergy and joint warfighting capabilities between the three Services.
In the exercise there were a series of engagements ranging from the multi-faceted maritime operations by synergised employment of amphibious assault ships, execution of maritime airstrikes, surveillance platforms and complex manoeuvres at sea.
It also involved the Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, the amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations.
The exercise witnessed the Indian Navy ship carrying amphibious boats, the commandos abseiling from Navy helicopters and Army troops moving in infantry fighting vehicles on a beach near Kakinada.
The exercise took place amid growing concerns over China’s increasing military forays into the Indian Ocean, a region considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy.
