India, Bangladesh hold joint naval exercise Bongosagar:
The second edition of the bilateral naval exercise "Bongosagar", between India and Bangladesh was held on 3 October 2020 in Northern Bay of Bengal. Both navies participated in seamanship evolutions, surface warfare drills, and helicopter operations. Bongosagar aims to develop interoperability and joint operational skills through the conduct of maritime exercises and operations.
Highlights:
♦ Bangladesh Navy ships Abu Bakr, Prottoy, helo & MPA and Indian Navy ships Kiltan, Khukri participaated in the exercise.
♦ They undertook manoeuvres, surface drills, helo operations & seamanship evolutions.
♦ Also, Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies and integral helicopters participated in the exercise.
♦ The first edition of the `Exercise Bongosagar` was held in 2019.
♦ The third edition of India Bangladesh Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) on 4-5 October. ♦ During the CORPAT exercise, both navies will undertake joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
♦ Exercise Bongosagar and IN-BN CORPAT reflects the priority Indian Navy accords to Bangladesh Navy as part of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region).
DRDO successfully tested SMART Missile:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha on 5th October 2020.
SMART:
♦ SMART missile is the assisted release of lightweight Anti-Submarine Torpedo System for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations for far beyond torpedo range.
♦ This test demonstration are significant in establishing ASW capabilities.
♦ Parameters including missile flight upto the range and altitude, the release of Torpedo, separation of the nose cone, and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism (VRM) were tested successfully.
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