Russia and India wrap up joint naval drills in Pacific (VIDEO)

Warships practiced live-fire artillery, counter-drone operations, and the rescue of a hijacked vessel during the Indra-2026 drills

Russian and Indian warships have completed joint naval drills off Russia’s Pacific coast, conducting live-fire exercises and practicing defenses against drone attacks as part of the wider Indra-2026 military exercise.

The maritime phase of the drills took place in the Gulf of Peter the Great near Vladivostok, involving the Russian Pacific Fleet corvette Aldar Tsydenzhapov and the Indian Navy frigate INS Sahyadri, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

INS Sahyadri arrived in Vladivostok on October 10 and conducted harbor engagements before operations at sea.

The crews fired naval artillery at surface and aerial targets, carried out coordinated maneuvers, and tested communications between the vessels. They also practiced repelling attacks by unmanned boats and aerial drones representing a simulated enemy. The Russian corvette used 30mm automatic guns, small arms, and electronic warfare systems to counter the simulated threats.

The exercises culminated in a simulated joint operation to rescue a civilian vessel seized by pirates. Russian and Indian naval counterterrorism units boarded the vessel and neutralized the attackers, with drone operators coordinating their movements.

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The two navies also practiced helicopter operations, including reconnaissance, cross-deck landings, and medical evacuations.

An Indian helicopter landed aboard the Russian corvette shortly after a Russian helicopter took off. The crews then exchanged mannequins representing wounded sailors as part of a casualty evacuation exercise, RT correspondent Igor Zhdanov reported from aboard the Russian warship.

Indra-2026 began on October 14 and involves land, naval, and air forces from both countries.

The land component will continue in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region until October 23, with troops practicing joint command and control and operations against simulated armed groups. Russian and Indian aircrews are also conducting exercises involving Su-30SM fighter jets and Mi-8 helicopters.

The previous edition of the exercise was held off the coast of the southern Indian city of Chennai.

The deployment builds on the longstanding defense partnership between Moscow and New Delhi and carries forward cooperation discussed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India last December, India’s Defense Ministry said.