The biggest ever naval flotilla to be in action off the Indian coast on Tuesday will see warships from five countries including US and India carry out manouveres to test their capabilities in a multi-threat scenario like missile, submarine and aerial attacks.
Top naval sources said on Monday no live ammunition will be let off but missile, submarine and air tactics will be simulated and recorded in the manouveres in the Bay of Bengal lasting five days.
The wargames being held just 40 to 50 nautical miles off the Myanmar Coco island will also work out joint manouveres to deal with sea piracy and sea terrorism, naval sources said.
Twenty-six warships from US, India, Australia, Japan and Singapore will be featured in intense day and night action being held for the first time away from the media glare.
Indian Air Force's Maritime Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft will for the first time be part of the concentrated action by warplanes and warships.
Warnings have been sounded to commercial ships to keep off the exercise path, sources said.
Over 160 fighter aircraft, 20 to 30 prowler air jammers, six to eight E2C Hawkeye will constantly be in the air during the war games, be it day or night, along with countless number of armed and reconaissance Unmanned Air Vehicles.
"Though kills and hits will be recorded, they will never be released," naval officials said pointing out that air superiority and air defence tactics will be jointly worked out.
Two submarines, a nuclear-powered one from the US Navy Chicago and another, a conventional HDW from India, will also be part of the wargames.
The Americans are fielding two carriers, nuclear-powered USS Nimitz and conventional carrier Kitty Hawk, six missile destroyers -- John Paul Jones, Mustin, Curtis Wilbur, Chafee, Higgins and Prickney -- two Tciodneroga class cruisers, Cowpens and Princeton and two tankers in the wargames.
The Japanese have two Takanami class destroyers, Oonami and Udachi, the Australians a US-built Oliver Hazard perry class firgate HMAS Sirius, and a tanker, and Singapore a French La Fayette class frigate RS formidable in the maneuvers.
Besides the Jaguars and Sea Harriers as air complement, the Indian flotilla in the wargames will comprise the carrier INS Vikrant, two Delhi class destroyers, two Kashin class missile destroyers and two Goadvari class missile frigates and an HDW conventional submarine.
