Barak missiles show their capability

INS Viraat: Defence minister A K Antony, along with navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, witnessed a massive firepower display put up by the Indian Navy in the waters of the Arabian Sea. The highlight of the naval exercise was the shooting down of a surface-to-surface missile by the Israeli Barak missile defence system.

Two Barak missiles, fired by INS Gomati, intercepted a P21 missile fired by INS Ganga, which was lurking three nautical miles away. The Barak firing was the highlight of a show put up by the navy for defence minister AK Antony, on what was his first "day at sea."

The naval exercise involved a submarine, two missile vessels and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft of the Western Fleet, which is the navy's premier fighting arm.

Antony witnessed a demonstration by the submarine, replenishment of multiple ships at sea, an air power demonstration, as well as close range anti-air firing and anti-ship warfare rocket firing.