Indian Navy officers were on Monday welcomed by the representatives of the Russian Pacific Fleet Command as ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy — Shivalik, Ranvijay and Shakti — arrived here.

 

The aim of the visit is to strengthen and develop friendly relations between the navies of India and Russia, a statement from the Indian Navy said.

 

The statement added that a joint naval exercise, INDRA 2014, is on the cards.

 

"In the exercise, the Russian Navy will be represented by guided-missile cruiser Varyag, destroyer Bystry, large landing craft Peresvet along with supply vessels. Air assets of the Pacific Fleet and Indian Navy will also be actively involved in the exercise."

 

The first Indo-Russian bilateral naval exercise was conducted in May 2003.