Which Indian Naval Ship participated in Exercise Cutlass Express, 2021 ?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, INS Talwar. INS Talwar, the lead ship of the Indian Navy's Talwar-class (Project 1135.6) guided-missile frigates, took part in Exercise Cutlass Express 2021, a multinational maritime-security exercise held off the East African coast (based at Mombasa, Kenya) in late July 2021. Sponsored by US Africa Command, the exercise focuses on countering piracy, illegal trafficking and improving maritime domain awareness in the Western Indian Ocean; India joined in a training and mentoring role, with INS Talwar as its participating warship.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong — the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (IAC-1) was still undergoing sea trials in 2021 and was only commissioned in September 2022; it did not participate in Cutlass Express 2021.  (b) Wrong — INS Magar is an amphibious warfare vessel (Landing Ship Tank), not the ship deployed for this East African maritime-security exercise.  (d) Wrong — INS Vikramaditya is the Navy's large aircraft carrier (a capital ship), not the frigate sent to Cutlass Express 2021.

Concept: Exercise Cutlass Express is an annual maritime-security exercise sponsored by US Africa Command and conducted off East Africa (Western Indian Ocean, around Mombasa). It brings together navies and coast guards to improve cooperation against piracy, illegal fishing and trafficking. In the 2021 edition India participated with the guided-missile frigate INS Talwar, largely in a trainer/mentor capacity.

State PCS 2021 Q62 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2021 Q62 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer