As the sea harrier aircraft shot the targets set by Chetak helicopter, Naval officials along with politicians from Goa witnessing this spectacular prowess of Indian Navy on board a naval ship, held back their breath for a while.
"We would have shown some missile firing but it is not possible as there are ships around," Flag Officer Commanding Goa Region, Rear Admiral Shekhar Sinha told Goa Governor S C Jamir, who was present along with state Power Minister Digamber Kamat for the Indian Navy's Day at Sea on Thursday.
Indian Navy warships INS Tabar, INS Dunagiri, INS Suvarna, SDB T-55, SDB T-54 along with submarine INS Shankul participated in this exercise showcasing the Navy's might at the sea.
The half-day-long exercises held around 50 nautical mile in the sea had warships maneuvering with the different formations, submarine demonstration, guns firing at the target in air, replenishment, aircraft sea harrier and helicopter Chetak demonstration and steam past saluting the Governor.
"The formation of warships are aimed at bearing maximum fire power on the enemy and also to defend in case of any enemy strike. The ships formation and maneuvering also facilitates making optimum use of weapons systems," explained a naval officer on board.
Missile firing exercise by Sea Harrier aircraft on the target set by Chetak helicopter, stole the show during exercises.
Guns fitted onboard firing 1,000 rounds per minute shot down the aerial target set up by INS Dunagiri by shooting a parachute in the air.
In the replenishment exercise, four civilians, including Goa's former Advocate General Carlose Ferreira, were transported from INS Dunagiri to INS Tabar and back while both ships were hardly 30 metres away from each other sailing at a speed of 10 nautical miles per hour.
More from rediff