President Pranab Mukherjee, accompanied by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi evaluated the largest ever show of Maritime- The International Fleet Review (IFR) in India. There were about 100 warships present on the East Coast of India.

The first International Fleet Review (IFR) was held in the year 2001, and all the major maritime nations from all continents of the world were represented at the event which took four days. This time round, Naval Vessels from Brazil and Australia put out to sea all the way to the India’s East Coast to take part in IFR being carried out by India.

The difference from 2001 was in almost two times the number of countries taking part, and that close to 50 Navies are present in Vizag, but in the fleet from India itself that the president was conducting the inspection. In India, a large fraction of the fleet reviewed was made, reflecting the navy’s lead role in indigenization efforts.

INS Kadmat was not left out on display. It is the Navy’s youngest ship having an original content of above 90 percent, which is an indication that nearly all components of the vessel, not excluding its weapons suite and sensor Systems have been manufactured in India.

The Goa Shipyard Limited made the INS Sumitra, which is the Presidential yacht. In September 2014, it was commissioned. The Vikramaditya and Viraat aircraft carriers which are the largest ships that emerged at IFR were imported. The next official review, which is likely in five years, gives a good chance that would see the first aircraft carrier made in India sailing and at the display.

By 2018, the under construction carrier at Kochi known as the Vikrant is set to join service and trial as work is making progress fast on the warship that is to operate the Indian designed Tejas (Naval) fighters and also the MiG 29 K fighters.

the Kalvari class of Scorpene submarines (first of which is undergoing trials) and the Arihant nuclear missile boat are the at least two classes of Indian made sub-surface vessels be seen in the next review while the Russian Origin kilo class built up the submarine Components at the IFR in service on either coast.

Even though it is housed at Vizag, the Arihant did not participated in IFR as was expected. The reason for this is that currently,  the vessel is being taken through trials and weapon firing tests which is considered to be the most crucial phase of operationalising the missile submarine. A submarine rescue or support vessel which is the Russian participant at the event showed up some clues on the current tasking of the first and only nuclear-armed submarine from India.

On the next few days, the IFR activities will continue, and the scheduled are: a fire power demonstration and a high powered maritime conference with speakers from across the world.

In the review are 24 foreign ships, two ships from the Indian Coast Guard and three from Mercantile Marine in addition to 65 Indian Naval warships and three IN Submarines.

There are several activities such as Waterfront activities by sail boats, water skiing, display by Marine Commandos and helicopter demonstrations.

The president was saluted by each ship that was dressed in full regalia as the presidential yacht passed between the review anchor columns.

15 formations of 45 aircraft, two structures from the Indian Coast Guard included, Fly-past by Naval Air Arm.

MiG 29K, AEW helicopter KM-31 and Long Range MR aircraft P8I are included in the Latest acquisition showcased.

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