INS Sahyadri and INS Kiltan from the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet called at Manila Port from 23 – 26 Oct 19 for a goodwill visit. The visit comes as a part of the deployment of the Eastern Fleet to the ASEAN and West Pacific.
INS Sahyadri is a Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and INS Kiltan, an Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette. Both ships are indigenously designed and constructed by Indian Ship Builders.
As part of the visit, the ships crew had extensive interactions with their Philippine Navy counterparts including Formal Calls on the leadership of the Philippine Navy, visits to each others’ ships as well as operational interactions such as a Table Top Exercise in harbour and an exercise at sea. The crews of both navies bonded over social interactions and sports fixtures hosted by the Philippine Navy.
HE Mr Jaideep Mazumdar, Ambassador of India to the Philippines and Captain Ashwin Arwind, the Commanding Officer of INS Sahyadri hosted a reception in honour of the Armed Forces of Philippines which was attended by Maj Gen Reynaldo Aquino, Vice Commander of Philippine Army, Commodore Wilfredo Burgonio Jr, Deputy Commander of Philippine Fleet, Commodore Rey Dela Cruz, Chief of Naval Staff as well as a large number of dignitaries from the Diplomatic Corps and Indian Community. Mr. Ricardo R. David, Jr., Under Secretary Defense Policy of the Department of National Defense visited the ships on 25 October 2019.
The enthusiasm and warmth of activities conducted at Manila were a true testimony of the strong bonds of friendship shared by both the countries and their Navies. Visit of these ships to Manila close on the heels of recently concluded State Visit of the president of India to the Philippines was much appreciated from various quarters of the Government of Philippines as well as the Indian Diaspora at the Philippines.
(Photo courtesy of Indian Embassy Manila)
Prior to their arrival at Manila, the ships were deployed for engagements with Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Japan. The ships departed on October 26 and will continue with the next phase of their deployment where more engagements are scheduled with Vietnam and Indonesia.
(Press Release/Indian Embassy)