The Indian Navy’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft Ilyushin 38SD aircraft successfully fired Combat Kh35E anti-ship missiles during the ongoing Theatre level Readiness and Operational Exercise 2021 (TROPEX-21). The Combat Kh35E missiles launched from the aircraft successfully hit and sank the target on 31 Jan 21.
This reaffirms the Indian Navy’s capability to carry out long range maritime strikes in the Indian Ocean Region, a capability that is central to meeting operational challenges and ensuring safe seas, secure coasts. TROPEX 21 is aimed at testing combat readiness of the Indian Navy, along with the assets of the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army and Coast Guard in a complex multi dimensional exercise set in the context of the current geo strategic environment.
