New Delhi: USS Nimitz (CVN 68), US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and world’s largest warship, will exercise with the frontline ships of Indian Navy near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today (Monday, July 20, 2020) and tomorrow.

The US-India Passex (passing exercise) involving the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group off the Andaman and Nicobar coast will send out a strong message to China which has been trying to aggressively expand its borders by illegally encroaching on land and sea belonging to its neighbours.

Nimitz aircraft carrier is coming from the South China Sea and was part of wargames along with USS Theodore Roosevelt.

India had naval exercise with the Japanese Naval forces at the end of June. The India-Japan naval exercises were termed “Passex” or passing exercises. It looks like a significant possibility that Australia may join India, the US, and Japan for the Malabar exercise, which is expected to happen later this year. All four countries already have a working arrangement called Quad whose foreign ministers met last year.

Powered by two nuclear reactors, four steam turbines and four shafts, USS Nimitz generates 194 megawatts of power. USS Nimitz is 332.85 metres long with its beam 40.84 metres high and the flight deck 76.8 metres wide. The warship displaces 1,00,020 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 31.5 knots (58.3 kilometres per hour). Due to its nuclear reactors, the warship can technically have unlimited endurance.

The warship has a crew of over 6000 including Navy personnel, the air wing and marines with almost 90 aircraft including fighters. Its armament includes Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 Rolling Airframe missiles along with two PHALANX CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) Gatling guns, four MK 38 25mm autocannon turrets and 10 0.50 calibre turret emplacements

Its air wing includes Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets, F/A-18E Super Hornets, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornets, Boeing EA-18G Growlers, Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes, Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawks, MH-60R Seahawks and Grumman C-2 Greyhound aircraft.

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet in a statement said:  The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, consisting of flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), participated in cooperative exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean commencing July 20.

“It was a privilege to operate with the Indian Navy,” said Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. “RADM Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, leads a powerful and highly skilled Fleet. The opportunity to have the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group join with his Fleet for a series of exercises improved our interoperability and is a testimony to the flexibility of both our Navies.”

While operating together, the U.S. and Indian naval forces conducted high-end exercises designed to maximize training and interoperability, including air defense. Nimitz CSG’s operations are designed to provide security throughout the region while building partnerships with friends and allies.

Naval engagements such as these exercises improve the cooperation of U.S. and Indian maritime forces and contribute to both sides’ ability to counter threats at sea, from piracy to violent extremism. These engagements also present opportunities to build upon the pre-existing strong relationship between the United States and India and allow both countries to learn from each other.

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Indian Ocean in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Photo caption: The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, consisting of flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), along with Indian Navy ships Rana, Sahyadri, Shivalik and Kamorta, steam in formation during a cooperative deployment in the Indian Ocean June 20.

Photo caption: The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, consisting of flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), along with Indian Navy ships Rana, Sahyadri, Shivalik and Kamorta, steam in formation during a cooperative deployment in the Indian Ocean June 20.

DeshGujarat