Exercise Mosi II

Subject : International Relations

Section : Msc

Concept :

Exercise Mosi II is a tri-nation naval exercise between Russia, China and South Africa.
The 2023 edition is being held in Durban and Richards Bay, South Africa (Indian Ocean coast) from 17 February.
This is seen as a demonstration of the three countries’ close ties amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s tense relationship with the West.
Russia is expected to test-fire Zircon hypersonic missiles during the drills.
The first edition took place off Cape Town in the southwest of South Africa in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in November 2019.

Richards Bay:

Richards Bay is a large port on the east coast of South Africa, located where the Mhlatuze River drains into the Indian Ocean.
More coal is exported (shipped to other countries) from Richards Bay than from any other port in the world.

Zircon hypersonic missiles

Zircon is a Hypersonic Cruise Missile developed by Russia.
It has been called as one of the invincible missiles by the Russian President.
The missile flies with an advanced fuel that the Russians say gives it a range of up to 1,000 kilometers.
The missile speed is also so fast that the air pressure in front of the weapon forms a plasma cloud as it moves, absorbing radio waves and making it practically invisible to active radar systems.