Indian and US forces have kicked off joint land and sea exercises off the Goa coast, after a lull of almost a year and half. This is the first time they attempt to land joint expeditonary forces from the sea.

"US Marines and specialised Indian Army troops would be attempting to land sea-borne expeditionary forces during the exercises, codenamed Malabar-9, off the Konkan coast," according to a Naval spokesman.

The exercises have already commenced from October 24 and would, for the first time, see US Marines in action on Indian soil as they go through complex battle manouvres in the Army's prestigious commando school in Belgaum.

After introducing the Indian Navy to their huge nuclear-powered carriers, US Navy has brought its newest nuclear-powered submarine, USS Providence, for the exercises.

The other elements of US forces will be the huge copter-cum-landing ship USS Boxer, destroyers Benfold and Howard, the US CoastGuard cutter Midget, Canandian frigate Ottawa and sea spyplane P3cOrions.

The Indian Navy is fielding the pride of its indigenous warships, INS Mysore, guided missile frigates Beas and Ganga, tanker Shakti, large landing ship INS Gharial, sub-surface killer submarine INS Shankul, CoastGuard ship Samar and reconnisance aircraft and sea harrier fighters.