India’s stealth warship makes a splash in London
LONDON : History merged with modernity on the deck of India’s stealth frigate INS Tarkash as top naval personnel, navy historians and others came together to celebrate 200 years of an iconic Mumbai-made vessel and annual exercises between the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy.
Packed with weapons, sensors and a crew of more than 200, INS Tarkash arrived in the United Kingdom to join an exercise with the Royal Navy named Konkan-17.
Closely involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia in recent years, INS Tarkash participated in an anti-hijack operation off Yemen on April 9 while on its way to Europe. It was also part of Operation Rahat in 2015, when it rescued 538 people from 18 countries from war-torn Yemen.
The Indian flag fluttered against a skyline of skyscrapers at West India Docks in Canary Wharf on Tuesday as defence secretary Michael Fallon, Indian high commissioner YK Sinha and INS Tarkash’s captain Rituraj Sahu celebrated naval ties between the two countries.
Sahu said: “Several joint exercises and manoeuvres, including exchange of Sea Riders personnel, were undertaken. We had interaction to promote cooperation ”
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was among the nearly 2,000 members of the Indian community who visited INS Tarkash during its stay in London.