The Indian Navy showcased its maritime capabilities for the first time in the form of a two-carrier battle group during the multinational naval exercise Milan 2024, which took place from February 19 to 27. The exercise was the largest joint naval exercise in India's history, involving navies from more than 50 countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, Australia and other important countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Indian Admiral Kumar said the exercise was aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation and promoting regional peace and stability.
The Indian Navy's twin aircraft carrier battle group consists of the domestically produced aircraft carrier "Vikrant" and the imported "Chaori King", both aircraft carriers are equipped with Russian-made MiG-29K carrier-based fighters, as well as India's self-developed "Tejli" light fighters. In addition, the Indian Navy also mobilized nearly 20 ships, including destroyers, frigates, submarines, amphibious ships, etc., as well as 50 aircraft of various types, such as early warning aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft, to participate in various subjects of the exercise. The Indian Navy said that this exercise was the first international exercise of India's domestically built aircraft carrier "Vikrant", and it was also the first time that the Indian Navy participated in the exercise in the mode of a two-aircraft carrier battle group, reflecting the strength and confidence of the Indian Navy.
The Milan 2024 multinational naval exercise is located in the waters near the port city of Visakhapatnam, where India's Eastern Navy Command is located, and the exercises include maritime security, humanitarian rescue, maritime counter-terrorism, maritime reconnaissance, anti-piracy, anti-submarine, anti-missile, anti-ship and anti-air. In addition to India, the United States, Russia, Japan, Australia and France participated in the "Milan" exercise, which takes its name from the Hindi word for "unity" and began in 1995 with the participation of the navies of Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. Since then, the series has grown in scale with increased maritime activity in New Delhi. Prior to 2020, the Milan series of exercises was conducted near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca, demonstrating the importance the Indian Navy attaches to the exercises. With the rapid increase in the number of navies participating in the exercise, India has shifted the location of the exercise to the vicinity of Visakhapatnam, a port city where the Eastern Navy Command is located. The Indian Navy said the exercise was aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation and promoting regional peace and stability, and was not aimed at any specific country or region.
However, some international ** analysts believe that the "Milan 2024" multinational naval exercise is actually an important opportunity for the Indian Navy to demonstrate its maritime power to China, especially in the context of the Sino-Indian border conflict and the Sino-US maritime confrontation, the Indian Navy intends to enhance its influence and voice in the Indian Ocean region, and also to prepare for maritime cooperation with the United States, Japan, Australia and other countries. According to the U.S. Naval Institute**, the Indian Navy's twin carrier battle groups are a challenge to the Chinese Navy, which hopes to demonstrate its dominance in the Indian Ocean region and its ability to coordinate with other navies. The Russian Satellite News Agency believes that the Indian Navy's dual aircraft carrier battle group is in response to the rise of the Chinese Navy, and the Indian Navy is very vigilant against the Chinese sea ** boat "trying to sneak into India's backyard through the Strait of Malacca", and this "Milan 2024" is obviously very targeted.