Article Posted on : - Sep 12, 2012

KOCHI (PTI): Defence Minister A K Antony will inaugurate the remote operating station of the Coastal Radar Chain of Kerala at the Coast Guard District Headquarters at nearby Fort Kochi on Sept 15.

In another function, he will flag off INS Sudarshini, the sail training ship of Indian Navy, for a historic voyage around countries of South East Asia, a defence release said Tuesday.

The static radar chain project, which aims at preventing undetected intrusion and monitoring of coastal traffic, has presently radars installed atop the light houses at Mount Dilli at Ezhimala, Ponnani, Vypin and separately in a structure at Kollam.

The ASEAN expedition of INS Sudarshini is a unique collaborative venture between Ministry of Defence/Indian Navy and Ministry of External Affairs to commemorate 20 years of dialogue partnership and 10 years of summit level partnership with ASEAN. INS Sudarshini will visit 13 ports of 9 ASEAN countries and will return in March 2013.

En route, in addition to Indian Cadets, international trainees are also expected to be embarked cementing and celebrating the warm ties between India and countries of ASEAN, the release said.