“In the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, two neighbor navies unite — not just to exercise, but to express a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in our waters.” — SLINEX 2024
SLINEX 2024 (Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise), the flagship bilateral naval drill between India and Sri Lanka, is set to unfold in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from January 7-12, 2024. This joint exercise symbolizes the deepening maritime cooperation between the two neighboring nations and their mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Hosted at India’s Eastern Naval Command headquarters, SLINEX 2024 will feature advanced warships including INS Kolkata and INS Shakti, alongside Sri Lankan Navy vessels, engaging in surface warfare drills, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance exercises.
🚢 What is SLINEX?
SLINEX (Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise) is a biennial naval drill conducted alternately in Indian and Sri Lankan waters since its inception in 2005. The exercise has been pivotal in strengthening defense ties, enhancing interoperability, and promoting mutual understanding between the navies of these two neighboring nations.
Key Features of SLINEX:
- Bilateral Focus: Exclusively between Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy
- Rotating Venue: Alternates between Indian and Sri Lankan ports
- Comprehensive Scope: Covers combat drills, humanitarian operations, and capacity building
- Strategic Platform: Reinforces India’s role as a net security provider in IOR
Think of SLINEX as a “practice match” between two friendly neighborhood cricket teams — except instead of cricket, they practice naval warfare, rescue operations, and disaster response together. By training together, both navies learn to work seamlessly when real emergencies occur in the Indian Ocean.
⭐ SLINEX 2024: Key Highlights
Venue & Timing: SLINEX 2024 takes place in Visakhapatnam, home to India’s Eastern Naval Command, from January 7-12, 2024. The strategic location provides an ideal backdrop for comprehensive naval drills.
Participating Assets:
- From India: INS Kolkata (Kolkata-class destroyer), INS Shakti (fleet tanker), P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
- From Sri Lanka: Flagship vessels from the Sri Lanka Navy
- Assets: Advanced warships, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and other naval platforms
Exercise Phases:
- Harbour Phase: Planning conferences, cross-deck visits, sports events, cultural exchanges
- Sea Phase: Combat drills, search & rescue, anti-submarine warfare, HADR exercises
Key Ships: INS Kolkata (destroyer) + INS Shakti (tanker). Location: Visakhapatnam (Eastern Naval Command HQ). Dates: January 7-12, 2024. Remember: “KS-7-12-Vizag” for quick recall!
🎯 Objectives & Focus Areas
Primary Objectives of SLINEX 2024:
1. Strengthening Maritime Security: Enhancing collective security, deterring illegal activities like piracy and smuggling, and ensuring free flow of trade in the Indian Ocean Region.
2. Interoperability: Improving operational compatibility between both navies, enabling seamless coordination during real-world missions and emergencies.
3. Capacity Building: Knowledge exchange, tactical discussions, and live drills to boost combat readiness and operational efficiency.
4. Diplomatic Engagement: Reinforcing the deep-rooted defense partnership between India and Sri Lanka, contributing to regional stability.
| Focus Area | Activities | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Warfare | Combat simulations, tactical maneuvers | Improve tactical proficiency |
| Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) | Underwater detection, tracking exercises | Enhance sub-surface capabilities |
| Search & Rescue (SAR) | Coordinated rescue operations | Strengthen emergency response |
| HADR | Disaster relief simulations | Joint response to natural calamities |
| Cultural Exchange | Sports, social events, cross-deck visits | Build trust and camaraderie |
Don’t confuse: SLINEX (India-Sri Lanka) with SIMBEX (India-Singapore), JIMEX (India-Japan), or MALABAR (India-US-Japan-Australia). Each exercise has a specific partner country. SLINEX is BIENNIAL (every 2 years), not annual like some other exercises.
🌏 Strategic Importance of SLINEX
SLINEX holds immense strategic significance for both nations and the broader Indian Ocean Region:
Geopolitical Significance:
- The Indian Ocean carries 80% of global oil trade and is a vital shipping route
- SLINEX underscores India and Sri Lanka’s commitment to safeguarding these waters
- Counters threats from piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing
Regional Cooperation:
- Aligns with India’s “Neighborhood First” policy
- Supports SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision
- Positions India as a net security provider in the IOR
Bilateral Benefits:
- Sri Lanka gains access to advanced Indian naval expertise and technology
- India strengthens strategic ties with a key neighbor in a region of growing geopolitical importance
- Both nations enhance their collective maritime domain awareness
Sri Lanka’s strategic location at the center of the Indian Ocean shipping lanes makes it crucial for regional security. With increasing Chinese presence in the IOR (including the Hambantota Port), exercises like SLINEX become vital for India to maintain its traditional influence and security partnerships in the neighborhood.
⚓ Participating Ships & Naval Assets
Indian Navy Participants:
INS Kolkata (D63):
- Lead ship of the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) guided-missile destroyers
- Commissioned: August 16, 2014
- Displacement: ~7,500 tonnes
- Armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Barak-8 SAMs
- One of India’s most advanced surface combatants
INS Shakti (A57):
- Deepak-class fleet tanker/replenishment ship
- Commissioned: October 1, 2011
- Displacement: ~27,500 tonnes
- Role: Provides fuel, ammunition, and supplies to naval fleets at sea
Other Assets: P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, naval helicopters, and advanced radar systems.
| Ship | Class/Type | Role | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| INS Kolkata | Kolkata-class Destroyer | Combat vessel | BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 SAMs |
| INS Shakti | Deepak-class Tanker | Fleet replenishment | Fuel & supply support |
| P-8I Poseidon | Maritime Patrol Aircraft | Surveillance & ASW | Long-range detection |
📜 India’s Maritime Policies: Neighborhood First & SAGAR
SLINEX 2024 exemplifies India’s commitment to two key foreign policy doctrines:
1. Neighborhood First Policy:
- Prioritizes strengthening ties with immediate neighbors
- Focuses on connectivity, cooperation, and mutual development
- SLINEX reinforces defense cooperation with Sri Lanka under this framework
2. SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region):
- Announced by PM Modi in March 2015 during Mauritius visit
- Vision for the Indian Ocean region based on cooperation, not competition
- Key Pillars: Maritime security, disaster response, blue economy, capacity building
- Positions India as a “net security provider” for smaller IOR nations
SAGAR represents India’s shift from a “land-locked” strategic mindset to a “maritime” outlook. As the Indian Ocean becomes a theater of great power competition (India, China, US), exercises like SLINEX help India build a network of maritime partnerships. Discuss: Is India’s “net security provider” role sustainable given China’s growing naval presence in the IOR?
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SLINEX stands for Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise, a biennial bilateral naval drill between the two countries.
SLINEX 2024 is being held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which is the headquarters of India’s Eastern Naval Command.
SLINEX was first conducted in 2005, making it nearly two decades old as a bilateral exercise.
SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) was announced by PM Modi in 2015 during his visit to Mauritius.
SLINEX is a biennial exercise, meaning it is conducted every two years, alternating between Indian and Sri Lankan waters.
