Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23: INS Sumedha At Port Alexandria, Egypt

INS Sumedha arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt on 06 September 2023 to participate in ‘Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23’. 

This edition of the multinational Tri-Services military exercise will see participation from 34 countries. It is the largest ever joint military exercise in the Middle East & North Africa region.

About Exercise BRIGHT STAR 2023

U.S. military forces joined the Egyptian Armed Forces, as well as other participating nations, for Exercise BRIGHT STAR 2023 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt, 31 August – 14 September 2023.  BRIGHT STAR 2023 builds on the strategic security relationship between Egypt and the United States.  

• Approximately 1500 U.S. service members participate in BRIGHT STAR 23. The focus will be on regional security and cooperation while promoting interoperability in conventional and irregular warfare scenarios. 
• The exercise consists of field training exercises (FTX), a command post exercise (CPX) focused on military decision-making process, military academics, Command and Control, Combined Joint Task Force planning and a senior level leadership Seminar. 

Phases of Exercise

Ex Bright Star 23 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. 

1. Harbor Phase: It involves wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures and interactions for planning and conduct of the Sea Phase.
2. Sea Phase:It  will include complex and high intensity exercises encompassing cross deck flying, anti-surface and anti-air exercises including live weapon firing drills. 

Importance of Exercise

The exercise provides an opportunity to the Indian Navy to enhance and demonstrate interoperability and also gain from the best practices in maritime security operations from its partner nations.

• This is the maiden participation of the Indian Navy in Ex Bright Star, which will also see participation of Naval ships from other Friendly Foreign Navies. 

About INS Sumedha

• INS Sumedha, commanded by Commander MC Chandeep, is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV) that possess long endurance, are fitted with requisite weapons, sensors, and capable of embarking an integral helicopter. 
• A highly potent platform that can be deployed for a variety of operational missions, INS Sumedha bears testimony to the capabilities of the Indian shipbuilding industry which underscores the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.