‘Exercise Aakraman’ & INS Surat
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TOI
Context: India escalated its military preparedness with the Indian Navy testing a surface-to-air missile from INS Surat and the Indian Air Force conducting ‘Exercise Aakraman’ featuring Rafale jets in a full-spectrum combat drill.
About INS Surat:
• Type: INS Surat is a Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyer under Project 15B.
• Built in: Developed indigenously by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai.
• Objective: To enhance India’s maritime strike capability and coastal defence preparedness.
• Features of INS Surat: Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM): Capable of intercepting aerial threats up to ~70 km away. BrahMos Cruise Missiles: Equipped with supersonic missiles for long-range precision strikes. Advanced Radar & Combat Systems: Features modern multi-function radar for target tracking and engagement. Stealth Design: Reduced radar cross-section to evade enemy surveillance and detection.
• Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM): Capable of intercepting aerial threats up to ~70 km away.
• BrahMos Cruise Missiles: Equipped with supersonic missiles for long-range precision strikes.
• Advanced Radar & Combat Systems: Features modern multi-function radar for target tracking and engagement.
• Stealth Design: Reduced radar cross-section to evade enemy surveillance and detection.
• Functions of INS Surat: Sea-Skimming Target Interception: Destroys low-flying hostile projectiles and drones over water. Coastal Surveillance: Conducts continuous maritime monitoring for security and threat detection. Fleet Protection: Provides layered defense for naval task forces against air and missile attacks. Offensive Strike Operations: Engages enemy naval assets and coastal installations with cruise missiles.
• Sea-Skimming Target Interception: Destroys low-flying hostile projectiles and drones over water.
• Coastal Surveillance: Conducts continuous maritime monitoring for security and threat detection.
• Fleet Protection: Provides layered defense for naval task forces against air and missile attacks.
• Offensive Strike Operations: Engages enemy naval assets and coastal installations with cruise missiles.
About Exercise Aakraman:
• What it is: A full-spectrum operational readiness drill by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Held at: Central sector, across diverse terrain including plains and mountains.
• Conducted by: Indian Air Force involving its Rafale fighter squadrons from Ambala and Hashimara bases.
• Objective: To test precision strike capabilities, evaluate combat readiness, and simulate high-intensity wartime operations with advanced munitions like Meteor, Rampage, and Rocks missiles.