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Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for bravery in anti-piracy operation

Wing Commander Akshay Saxena of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his exemplary bravery in a high-risk anti-piracy operation and rescuing the 'Ruen' from Somali pirates. On Dec 14, 2023, the pirates hijacked the vessel about 380 nautical miles east of Socotra Island, in the Arabian Sea. They took 17 crew members hostage and sailed the vessel towards the Somali coast, where they began negotiations with the shipowner. However, instead of anchoring off Somalia, the pirates decided to set sail again, likely intending to use the 'Ruen' as a mother ship for launching attacks on other vessels in the Indian Ocean. On March 15, 2024, an Indian Navy long-range maritime patrol intercepted the ship about 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. The Indian Warships INS 'Kolkata' and INS 'Subhadra' were positioned alongside the hijacked vessel. In response, the pirates opened fire on the warships and shot down one of 'Kolkata'’s surveillance drones. The Indian military then quickly deployed a team of 18 marine commandos (Marcos) and an IAF C-17 transport aircraft for a precision airdrop mission. Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, as the pilot of the C-17, led the operation that involved the insertion of the commandos into the sea near the 'Ruen'. This risky operation required Saxena to navigate through a third country’s airspace for nearly four hours without authorisation and in complete secrecy. Saxena flew the C-17 at a low level, turning off all the aircraft’s communication systems to avoid detection. As they approached the drop zone, the location was changed, requiring the crew to adapt quickly. Despite the change, Saxena executed the airdrop smoothly, dropping the 18 commandos and their inflatable boats into the water near the 'Ruen'. The commandos boarded the vessel, confronted 35 pirates aboard, and forced them to stand down and surrender. The Indian Ministry of Defense commended Saxena for his “flawless execution of an extremely gruelling mission” and for displaying “exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism, and steadfast determination.” He maintained situational awareness during the operation, which lasted for over 10 hours. The rescue of the 'Ruen' also marked the first-ever insertion of marine commandos via airdrop on the high seas, proving India’s readiness to handle piracy threats in distant waters. The Indian Navy has also recommended Lieutenant Commander Sourabh Malik for a gallantry award. Malik and his Commando squad carried out an opposed boarding of the fishing vessel 'Omari' on Feb 2, 2024. Despite the hijackers’ attempts to stop the boarding with heavy and constant small arms fire, they captured seven armed pirates and freed 19 fishermen. Report with photos: https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/iaf-pilot-honoured-for-10-hour-mission-to-rescue-hijacked-ship-from-somali-pirates/

Captured pirates landed in Mumbai facing harsh punishment

The 35 pirates are to be prosecuted for the hijacking of the 'Ruen' were were brought in for prosecution by the Indian Navy, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on March 23, days after its navy recaptured a hijacked bulk carrier and rescued several hostages. The destroyer INS 'Kolkata', which led the rescue operation, docked in the port early on March 23. The Somalis were expected to be transferred to police custody later that day. This marked the first time in more than a decade that pirates captured at sea would be brought to Indian shores to face trial. Under India’s anti-piracy laws, the men could face the death sentence if they were convicted of a killing or an attempted killing, and life imprisonment for piracy alone. Regarding the 'Ruen', the 17 crew members were duly shifted to Indian Naval ships. The Navy then sent in its specialists to sanitise the ship and ensure it had no arms, ammunition or contraband on board. It also had to assess the seaworthiness and carry out some essential repairs with the help of a naval technical team to ready the merchant ship for further voyage. The M/s Navibulgar, the shipping company that owned the vessel, requested that the captain and crew be reinstated on the 'Ruen'. The crew was again shifted mid-sea from the INS 'Kolkata' onto the bulk carrier, which then proceeded under own power to the next port of Salalah. The destination was decided by the company. The Indian Navy warship INS 'Subhadra' escorted the vessel to ensure its security against another possible pirate attack. Report with photos: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/23/captured-somali-pirates-arrive-in-india-to-face-trial-over-ship-hijacking

Operation of Indian Navy showed capabilities - Bulgarian president thanked

The Indian Navy’s re-capturing of the 'Ruen' from pirates off Somalia’s coast has showed how Delhi’s military has developed special forces capabilities on par with some of the world’s best, analysts said. The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet. The success of the operation marks the Indian Navy as a top-class force in terms of training, command and control and other capabilities, according to the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs. The risk was minimized by using a coordinated force that includes use of a warship, drones, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and marine commandos. Spanish, Japanese and Indian warships had tracked the bulk carrier as it was taken into Somali territorial waters. When the 'Ruen', now operated by a pirate crew, last week left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy made moves to intercept it. The destroyer INS 'Kolkata', operating in the area to help ensure international maritime security, used a ship-launched drone to confirm the 'Ruen' was being operated by armed pirates. After the pirates fired on the drone, destroying it, and then on the Indian warship itself, the INS 'Kolkata' responded by firing on the 'Ruen', disabling its steering and navigation. As the INS 'Kolkata' sought the surrender of the pirates, the commandos parachuted in after a 10-hour flight from India. Rafts were also dropped into the ocean from the large transport for marines to reach the 'Ruen'. The Indian show of force proved too much for the pirates. Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered. Bulgarian leaders, including President Rumen Radev, thanked India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the operation. The incident highlighted the professionalism of the Indian Navy, and Delhi’s marine commando force, known as MARCOS, had learned from its US and British counterparts. The captured pirates were due to arrive in India on March 23 and will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.