President Pranab Mukherjee reviews naval fleet

India’s naval might was on full display off the Visakhapatnam coast on Saturday as President Pranab Mukherjee reviewed the naval fleet.

A fleet review is a ceremonial and stately inspection of naval warships by the supreme commander of the armed forces, the president of India.

President Pranab Mukherjee, onboard the presidential yacht INS Sumitra, inspected the fleet of 71 Indian naval ships.

Also on the yacht were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and three other service chiefs.

The fleet review has 71 of Indian Navy’s ships lined up, including both aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Virat.

However, INS Virat will be retiring soon.

Around 50 navies and 24 foreign ships are participating in the International Fleet Review, the second to be held by India and largest military exercise hosted by the country so far.

The last IFR was held in Mumbai in 2001 which was presided by the late APJ Abdul Kalam. Twenty-nine countries had participated in the event.