India's navy recently sent a four-ship task group on an extensive four-month deployment intended to increase cooperation while taking part in training and visiting ports in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Headed by the Project-15 destroyer INS Delhi, which acted as flagship, the force included the Improved Godavari-class frigate Brahmaputra and her sister ship, Beas, shown here. Rounding out and supporting the task group was the Rajabagan Palan-class replenishment oiler Aditya. The group operated throughout early summer with forces from a number of navies, including the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. The deployment began by passing through the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea and continued across the Mediterranean Sea and into English Channel, Gulf of Finland, and Baltic Sea. Exercises with warships from the Royal Navy and French fleet as well as a visit to the Russian Baltic fleet, provided the Indian Navy with an opportunity to gain expertise under far different environmental and climatic conditions than those generally found off India's coast.
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