Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
The Indian Navy has positioned five frontline guided missile destroyers in Arabian Sea, including INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, and INS Visakhapatnam, along with logistical support from a Boeing P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and a Sea Guardian drone, after an Iranian missile attacked a merchant vessel bound to India from Saudi Arabia.
This deployment is independent of the US-led coalition deployed in the Middle East to protect shipping routes. The INS Kolkata is positioned at the entrance of the Red Sea, INS Kochi south of Yemen's Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the west Arabian Sea, and INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea.
INS Visakhapatnam has been assigned the task of patrolling the north Arabian Sea. It was deployed after the Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 struck the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto off Dwarka in Gujarat.
The five destroyers are currently being fuelled by the civilian tanker M V Swarnamala, a 25,000-ton oil tanker. This civilian vessel provides substantial fuel and lubricant capacity compared to the Indian Navy's tankers.
The Indian Navy's primary objectives include preventing black shipping, piracy, and deterring missile attacks on commercial shipping by Iranian proxies in the Arabian Sea.
Boeing P-8I multi-mission aircraft and the long-endurance Sea Guardian drone are actively surveying vessels in the Arabian Sea and up to the Gulf of Aden. Their mission is to identify suspicious ships and dhows used by groups targeting commercial shipping.
The efforts aim to counter threats posed by Iranian proxies such as the Shia Houthis in Yemen and Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq. These groups have been implicated in targeting commercial shipping against Israel's actions in Gaza.
While the US-led coalition focuses on deterring Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Indian Navy's initiative is crucial in securing the Arabian Sea from potential missile attacks on vital commercial shipping routes.
The security measures are essential as the Red Sea and Persian Gulf contribute to trillion-dollar worth of merchant and oil trade. The potential risk from Iran backed militia necessitates proactive measures to safeguard these crucial trade routes.
In addition to the Indian Navy's efforts, the Coast Guard is actively patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on the western coast. Using offshore patrol vessels and Dornier surveillance aircraft, they aim to ensure no suspicious activity occurs along the Indian coastline and the Arabian Sea.