New Delhi, March 24 The indigenous stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of India's Project 17A, has arrived in Sydney to participate in an international fleet review hosted by the Royal Australian Navy to mark its 125th anniversary, officials said on Tuesday.
It arrived in Sydney on March 21 after the completion of the first phase of Exercise Kakadu – a maritime multilateral drill conducted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The visit marks a significant milestone in the ship's deployment abroad and underscores the growing maritime cooperation between India and Australia, an Indian Navy spokesperson said.
The deployment of INS Nilgiri in the southern hemisphere and the Western Pacific, alongside numerous foreign navies, highlights India's growing role in building a secure, cooperative, and rules-based maritime order across the broader Indo-Pacific region, the Indian Navy said.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, will head the Indian delegation that will participate in various multilateral activities associated with the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) International Fleet Review (IFR).
Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, will represent the Indian Navy at the Fleet Commanders' Conference as part of the IFR.
During the port call, a series of professional and multilateral engagements are scheduled, aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, interoperability, and maritime collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, the spokesperson said.
As part of the visit, INS Nilgiri will participate in various professional discussions, exercise planning activities, subject matter expert exchanges, and sporting events, the official said.
At the recently concluded IFR in Visakhapatnam in February this year, the RAN was represented by HMAS Warramunga, an ANZAC-class frigate.
The participation of INS Nilgiri in the RAN's IFR is thus a symbol of "mutual respect and acknowledgement" of the growing partnership between the two navies, the spokesperson said.