Context: The Indian Armed forces conducted a large-scale tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX – 21 in Andaman and Nicobar group of islands in between 21 to 25 January 2021.
Key highlights

• In this exercise, the Naval ships, amphibious troops of the Army and different types of aircraft from the Air force participated.
• The exercise was conducted with the aim of validating India’s capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrity of the island territories.
• The exercise was also aimed at enhancing the operational synergy and joint warfighting capabilities between the three Services.
• In the exercise there were a series of engagements ranging from the multi-faceted maritime operations by synergised employment of amphibious assault ships, execution of maritime airstrikes, surveillance platforms and complex manoeuvres at sea.
• The exercise also involved the Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, the amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations.
• Exercise KAVACH for the defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands was also the part of AMPHEX – 21.

Significance of the exercise

• The exercise validated joint capabilities of intelligence gathering from space, air, land and sea-based assets, its synthesis, analysis and near real time sharing to achieve battle field transparency for quick decision making.
• The joint force executed multi-domain, high intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
• The tri-services exercise fine-tuned joint war fighting capabilities and Standard Operating Procedures towards enhancing operational synergy.

Must Read: https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/IAS/MjUyMjk3/Exercise-Kavach-Security-Issues-IAS