[Myanmar] Burma And India To Conduct Joint Naval Exercise

As part Burma and India’s efforts to enhance their defense ties, their navies will conduct joint exercises and patrols in the Bay of Bengal this week, the Times of India reports. A Burmese frigate and corvette made a port call in Visakhapatnam in India’s Andra Pradesh State ahead of the exercise, which reportedly is due to start in several days. The report provided no further details on the exercises. The newspaper also said that India was running a training program for Burmese armed forces, including training exercises for Burmese pilots of the Russian-built Mi-35 helicopter gunships. Burma’s government deployed the helicopters in its conflict with ethnic Kachin rebels in December and January.