Indo Seychelles Joint Military Exercise (EX LAMITYE)

Indo Seychelles Joint Military Exercise (EX LAMITYE) 

The Seventh Joint Military Training Exercise between the Indian Army and the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) - LAMITYE 2016, will be conducted at Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA), Victoria, Seychelles from 15 February to 28 February 2016. The SPDF will be represented by 20 personnel from Tazar (Special Forces Unit) and 32 from Seychelles Infantry. The Indian contingent will comprise of an Infantry platoon and representatives from the Special Forces. India and Seychelles have been conducting joint exercises since 2001 & ‘Exercise Lamitye’, which means friendship in Creole (local dialect), is conducted biennially with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between the two countries. 


The Exercise will commence with an Opening Ceremony on 15 February 16 at SDA. The concluding phase of the Exercise, incorporating a tactical exercise will be witnessed by senior military officers from both the countries who will review the standards of interoperability achieved by both the contingents. 

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Visit Of Indian Warships to Male, Maldives 

Indian Naval ships Vikramaditya, Mysore and Deepak are scheduled to visit Male from 15 – 18 Feb 16 after participating in the International Fleet Review. The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based at Mumbai. 

INS Vikramaditya, one of the two aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, is a state-of-the-art ship, capable of operating a versatile range of high-performance aircraft, such as the MiG 29K fighters, KM 31 AEW helicopters, multi-role Seakings and utility Chetaks. The ship is over 285 meters long and 60 meters wide. Her 23 decks scale a height of 60 meters. She is accompanied by indigenously constructed INS Mysore, a frontline missile destroyer and INS Deepak, the Fleet Tanker. 

During the visit, the warships will have professional interactions with the MNDF for further enhancing the close co-operation between the two forces. In addition, a number of sports and social engagements, aimed at strengthening ties and mutual understanding between the two Navies, are also planned. 

The Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh, NM, is flying his flag onboard the Vikramaditya. INS Vikramaditya is commanded by Captain Krishna Swaminathan, INS Mysore is commanded by Capt M Paul Samuel and INS Deepak is commanded by Capt Sujit Kumar Chhetri. 

India and Maldives are close maritime neighbours with strong and extremely cordial defence and diplomatic relations. The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, in conjunction with MNDF, regularly undertake surveillance in the Maldivian EEZ. The current visit highlights the importance accorded by India to bilateral relations with Maldives and seeks to strengthen the existing bonds between the two countries. 

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AIR VICE MARSHAL RD MATHUR PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF AIR MARSHAL


Air Vice Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur  who had been Assistant Chief of Air Staff in charge of the Indian Air Force's Air Warfare Strategy Cell besides its space,  cyber,  Air Traffic Services and Media &  Public Relations Directorates,  promoted to the rank of Air Marshal on 15 Feb 16.   Commissioned into the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1982, the officer has over 5,000 hours of flying experience in a variety of operational and training roles.  He had earlier served as Air Defence commander at Ho Eastern Air Command and commanded a frontline Air Force Station and a Fighter aircraft squadron. 


Air Marshal RD Mathur has undergone post-graduate courses at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi, and holds M.Sc and M Phil degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University

For his meritorious service, he has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2003 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014 by the President of India.