New Delhi: A two-day Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) of India and Bangladesh Navies are underway in the Northern Bay of Bengal. The exercise commenced on Sunday along the International Maritime Boundary.
A Naval spokesperson said in New Delhi that two indigenously built Indian warships – Kora, a guided-missile corvette and Sumedha, an offshore patrol vessel are participating in the exercise, whereas, from Bangladesh, the Navy ships Ali Haider and Abu Ubaidah have joined. He added that the maritime patrol aircraft of both navies are also participating in the Coordinated Patrol.
It is the fourth edition of the CORPAT. The last CORPAT was conducted in October 2020.
The exercise aims to bolster mutual understanding and enhance interoperability between both the navies in countering transnational maritime threats at sea.
Both India and Bangladesh share strong military ties and their Navies cooperate in various operational engagements, including bilateral exercises 'BONGOSAGAR' and CORPAT.
What is CORPAT?
A CORPAT exercise or Coordinated Patrol builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates the institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
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