Indian and the US navy are conducting their annual amphibious training exercise, Habu Nag, in the East China Sea to enhance their bilateral inter-operability, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) is participating in this exercise, while several officers of the Indian Armed Forces joined to observe Navy and Marine amphibious training and to participate in a tabletop exercise. The exercise that started on September 29 is scheduled to conclude today. Commodore Gagan Kaushal of the Indian navy said the exercise gives them the chance to get a ground view of how everything is executed. Noting that it has been a wonderful experience being on a US ship, Colonel Manoj Tiwari, of the Indian army said, they have learned a lot about the US Marine Corps and how they function and work with the naval element.