The Indian Navy
on Friday successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile the INS Kora, a guided
missile corvette, in the Bay of Bengal as it flexed its combat readiness in the
strategic waters surrounding India.

Officials
said that the missile hit its target at maximum range with precise accuracy.

“Anti-ship
missile fired by Indian Navy’s Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora hits the target
at max range with precise accuracy in Bay of Bengal. Target ship severely
damaged and in flames,” the Navy tweeted.

The Navy had
earlier released a video of an anti-ship missile destroying a ship with “deadly
accuracy” in the Arabian Sea, PTI reported.

The firing of
the missile, from the frontline corvette INS Prabal, was part of a drill involving
aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and several other warships, attack
helicopters, aircraft and other Navy assets.

With an escalation of tensions with China since the border clashes in Ladakh, the Navy has
significantly increased its presence in the Indian Ocean in an attempt to send
a message to Beijing.

The Indian Navy has also participated in a number of joint-military drills with other nations in recent times, including a three-day exercise with the Japanese Navy from September 26-28. 

It also participated in a two-day drill with the Australian navy in the Indian Ocean. 

The Indian Navy also participated in a joint-military exercise with the US Navy, which featured the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the world’s largest warship.