indigenous satellite Rukmani was extensively utilised." Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar witnessed the exercise. He also spent a night on-board INS Vikramaditya during the exercise. TROPEX 2017 TROPEX 2017 was conducted from 24 January to 23 February 2017 off the Western Seaboard of India. The exercise included both a harbour and sea phase. Over 45 ships, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and amphibious transport dock , five submarines, including INS Chakra, 50 aircraft from the Indian Navy's Western and Eastern Naval Command, 11 ships from the Indian Coast Guard, 20 aircraft from the Indian Air Force including Su-30MKI, SEPECAT Jaguar, AWACS, C-130J Super Hercules and in-flight refuelling aircraft Il-78MKI, and Indian Army troops participated in TROPEX 2017. The exercise was conducted in various phases. The joint workup phase witnessed various weapon firings by assets of the navy and the air force. This was followed by a tactical phase which lasted for over 10 days. "The interaction of the forces helped validate operational war fighting concepts and provided valuable lessons to sharpen combat skills," a statement issued by Ministry of Defence said. Tropex 2017 included firing a BrahMos missile from guided missile destroyer and the firing of a Kh-35 anti-ship missile from an upgraded Il-38 Sea Dragon maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise was witnessed by Admiral Sunil Lanba (Chief of the Naval Staff), General Bipin Rawat (Chief of the Army Staff) and Vice Admiral Girish Luthra (FOC in C, Western Naval Command). Beside gunnery shoots, missile firing, and air defense exercises, TROPEX 2017 featured Large Force Engagement (LFE) by Indian Navy fleet units against threats simulated by the Indian Air Force with key assets such as Su-30MKI and Jaguars, equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, representing enemy aircraft. These threats, coming from different directions, were neutralised by MiG-29K interceptors taking off from the aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, in coordination with other fleet elements. "TROPEX 2017 assumes great significance in the backdrop of current security scenario. The exercise provided an apt-opportunity to test the combat capability of the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard, and strengthened inter-operability and joint operations in complex conflict situation," a Navy statement said. TROPEX 2019 TROPEX 2019 had commenced 7 Jan 2019 and was planned to be terminated by 10 Mar 2019. However, the JEM sponsored terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on 14 February 2019 led to the rapid redeployment