INS Kadmatt with her captain and crew along with Royal Thai Navy officers and sailors in Bangkok port. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: After her port call in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, and joint exercise with a Philippine Navy warship in part of the disputed South China Sea, Indian warship INS Kadmatt arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday. This strategic visit is a part of the corvette’s long-range operational deployment in the North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea.
Her port call in Bangkok marks a significant step in bolstering maritime cooperation and enhancing interoperability between the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy.
The INS Kadmatt, an indigenously built stealth anti-submarine corvette, is the second of its kind in the Navy’s fleet. Commissioned in 2016, the ship has a stellar track record of participating in joint naval exercises with friendly nations. Since its commissioning, it has been playing a crucial role in regional security and fostering maritime partnerships.
INS Kadmatt as she approaches Bangkok port. (Photo: Indian Navy)
Her arrival in Bangkok is not merely a symbolic gesture. During her operational turnaround, the INS Kadmatt will host a cross-ship visit by personnel from the Royal Thai Navy Academy. This exchange will provide valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing, cultural understanding, and building bridges between the future generations of both navies.
Furthermore, a planning conference for the upcoming maritime partnership exercise (MPX) between the Indian and Thai navies will be held onboard the INS Kadmatt. This joint exercise, involving the INS Kadmatt and the Royal Thai Navy corvette HTMS Rattanakosin, aims to sharpen tactical skills, strengthen communication, and refine coordinated responses to maritime threats. [The “HTMS” in “HTMS Rattanakosin stands for “His Thai Majesty’s Ship”, like the “INS” in “INS Kadmatt” stands for “Indian Naval Ship”.]
The captain of INS Kadmatt (C) welcomed by a Royal Thai Navy captain in Bangkok port. (Photo: Indian Navy)
Adding to the significance of the INS Kadmatt’s visit, the chief of Indian Navy, Admiral Radhakrishan Hari Kumar, is scheduled to interact with the crew of the INS Kadmatt on December 23.
The Navy chief is currently in Bangkok heading the Indian naval delegation at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs (IONSCoC – 2023) being hosted by the Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok. The conclave started on December 19 and will conclude on December 22.
