Indian Navy Deploy 5 Destroyers for Securing Arabian Sea

Defense News ,India :- Amid growing apprehensions regarding Iranian proxy activities targeting merchant ships off the Indian coast, the Indian Navy has elevated its vigilance across the Arabian Sea. New Delhi has witnessed the strategic deployment of a formidable naval force, comprising five state-of-the-art guided missile destroyers, a logistics tanker, Boeing P-8I anti-submarine maritime warfare aircraft, and the long-endurance Sea Guardian drone. This proactive move aims to secure sea communication lanes extending from Bab el-Mandeb to the Indian coast, shielding merchant vessels from potential missile threats posed by Iranian proxies in the Middle East.

Strategically positioned across the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy deployment includes INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, and INS Visakhapatnam. INS Kolkata guards the mouth of the Red Sea, INS Kochi patrols south of Yemen Socotra Island, INS Mormugao operates in the western Arabian Sea, and INS Chennai is stationed in the central Arabian Sea.

A noteworthy development is the recent mission undertaken by INS Visakhapatnam, which set sail from the Indian coast two days ago. This mission follows an incident involving an Iranian Shahed 136 ammunition hitting the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto 210 nautical miles off Dwarka, Gujarat.

Fueling these cutting-edge destroyers is the MV Swarnamala, a 25,000-ton oil tanker currently engaged by the Indian Navy. With substantial fuel and lubricant capabilities, this civilian tanker surpasses the Indian Navy tanker capacities.

While actively securing the Arabian Sea against black shipping and piracy, the Indian Navy destroyers are also focused on deterring potential missile attacks by Iranian-backed militias and terrorist groups. Aerial surveillance plays a crucial role, with Boeing P-8I multi-mission aircraft and the long-endurance Sea Guardian drone continually monitoring vessels across the Arabian Sea, extending their reach up to the Gulf of Aden. Their primary objective is to identify suspicious ships and dhows used by Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, and Tehran-linked groups targeting commercial shipping.

The heightened tensions involving Iranian proxies, particularly the Houthis actions in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea amid Israel conflict with Sunni Hamas in Gaza, emphasize the necessity for increased security measures. The involvement of Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah in clashes with Israel along its northern border further amplifies concerns.

While the US-led coalition focuses on deterring Iranian proxies in the Red Sea, India concentrated efforts aim to safeguard the Arabian Sea against potential missile threats. This initiative is crucial for preserving trillion-dollar-worth merchant and oil trade routes vulnerable to Iranian militia activities.

In tandem with the Indian Navy initiatives, the Coast Guard is intensifying patrolling efforts within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the western coast. Equipped with offshore patrol vessels and Dornier surveillance aircraft, the Coast Guard aims to ensure the integrity of the Indian coastline and the Arabian Sea, actively monitoring against any suspicious activities.