Naseem Al Bahr

• The 9th edition of the bilateral Indian Navy-Royal Omani Navy biennial exercise began on 23 Sep 13 off the coast of Oman, in the North Arabian Sea.
• Indian Naval Ships Mysore (guided missile destroyer), Tarkash and Tabar (stealth frigates) and Aditya (fleet tanker) are participating. The Royal Omani Navy is being represented by Royal Navy of Oman Vessels (RNOV) missile and gun vessels, Al Muazzar, Al Mussandam, Al Naja and a Landing ship RNOV Temsah, along with Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft F-16, Hawks and Jaguars amongst others.
• With the first Indian Navy-Royal Navy of Oman exercise having been conducted in 1993, this year marks 20 years of IN-RNO bilateral exercises. “Naseem Al Bahr” 2013, will be the ninth edition of the biennial bilateral exercise between the two navies. The exercise is aimed at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of both the navies. A good measure of interoperability has been achieved over the years as result of such exercises.
• Bilateral relation between Indian and Oman were formally established with signing of a 1953 Indo-Oman Treaty of friendship, Navigation and Commerce, a first between India and an Arab country. Naval exercises have contributed to strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Sultanate of Oman. The signing of a MoU on Defence Cooperation in Dec 2005 and subsequent establishment of the Joint Military Cooperation in Mar 2006 has set the foundation for increased defence cooperation. Since then, naval cooperation between the countries has progressed steadily with increased port visits by naval ships and training of RNO personnel by the Indian Navy in hydrography, diving, training management, logistics management and dockyard management.