U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon crew engages VIT university students
Seventeen crew members of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft interacted with students from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
The U.S. Navy visited the institute alongside a visit to the Indian Naval Air Station INS Rajali as part of the ongoing Tiger Triumph 2025, the fourth iteration of this tri-service joint exercise between the United States and India.
VIT Vice President Dr. Sekar Viswanathan welcomed the service members. The crew later interacted with students specializing in a variety of cutting-edge technological disciplines, explained the aircraft’s key features, and shared the aircraft’s role in joint operations with the Indian Navy. The event highlighted the real-world application of emerging technologies in disaster response missions and maritime security.
U.S. Consulate General Chennai Public Diplomacy Officer Eric Atkins said, “Tiger Triumph is a bridge between our people and our shared vision for a secure and resilient Indo-Pacific. Today’s interaction at VIT University highlights another facet of how innovation, collaboration, and mutual respect can power our partnership forward.”
Lt. Noah Conner, officer in charge of the P-8A attachment, which operates under Commander, Task Force 72 and U.S. 7th Fleet said, “Our team is thrilled to be in India for Tiger Triumph 2025, where we can bring this technology and expertise into a realistic training environment that prepares our joint, combined forces for any mission our nations may require. One of the most important parts of this exercise is building personal relationships and strengthening the bonds between our people, and that’s what we’ve been able to do with the students at the university. This is a really special occasion that we’ll remember always.”
Held April 1-13 in Visakhapatnam, Tiger Triumph 2025 focuses on refining joint operational capabilities in logistics, command and control, and maritime maneuvers. This year’s collaborative efforts reaffirm the enduring strength of the U.S.-India defense relationship and the importance of people-to-people ties in shaping a more secure and innovative future for the Indo-Pacific region.