India deploys sea-air patrols amid Arabian Sea uncertainty

New Delhi, Decemeber 29: In response to escalating tensions in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, the Indian Navy has taken proactive measures, deploying a formidable fleet of guided missile destroyers to monitor the region. The move comes amidst Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza and increasing threats to commercial shipping by Iranian proxies.

The INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai, and INS Visakhapatnam, each equipped with Brahmos land attack missiles, have been strategically positioned from the Red Sea to the Indian western coast. This deployment aims to safeguard critical sea lanes of communication in the face of potential disruptions caused by regional conflicts.

To enhance surveillance capabilities, the Indian Navy is utilising Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and an unarmed version of the Predator drone. The focus is on identifying vessels that could be exploited by Iranian proxies to target commercial ships in the region. Simultaneously, the Indian Coast Guard is employing Dornier surveillance aircraft and offshore patrol vessels to maintain deterrence in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) along the western coast.

The situation is further complicated by the presence of international naval forces. The US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, along with its strike force, is operating in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Dwight Eisenhower is positioned off the Gulf of Aden to counter the Houthi ballistic missile and drone threat in the Red Sea. However, concerns persist as countries like Spain, Italy, France, and Japan operate under the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, with Chinese warships off the coast of Djibouti maintaining a cautious distance from potential conflict zones.

In contrast, the Indian Navy has taken a proactive stance in securing the Arabian Sea's sea lanes. INS Kolkata is positioned near the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea, INS Kochi in the south of Yemen's Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the western Arabian Sea, INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea, and INS Visakhapatnam patrolling the north Arabian Sea.

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The recent incident involving an Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 hitting the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto near Dwarka in Gujarat has intensified Indian vigilance. In response, the Indian Navy is not only deterring Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping but also actively combating black shipping and protecting vessels from potential Somali pirate threats near the Socotra Islands.

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Fueling the five top-of-the-line destroyers is the MV Swarnmala, a 25,000-tonne oil tanker hired by the Indian Navy for its substantial fuel and lubricant capacity. This civilian tanker outmatches Indian Navy's own tankers, exemplified by the INS Deepak. As Indian ships assert dominance across the extended EEZ, reaching up to 200 nautical miles off the coastline, Boeing P8I multi-mission aircraft and long-endurance unarmed Predator drones continue to survey vessels in the sea, up to the Gulf of Aden, identifying any suspicious activities.

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The primary targets for surveillance are vessels used by Shia Houthi militia in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq, and Tehran, who are known to pose threats to commercial shipping. With the US Navy successfully thwarting Houthi missile attacks, major shipping companies like Maersk are contemplating resuming operations through the Red Sea rather than taking alternative routes. The Suez Canal, through which nearly one trillion dollars worth of oil and goods trade passes annually, remains a crucial focal point, and any disruptions could lead to increased costs in goods transportation and rising insurance premiums for commercial shipping.

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