General News, Questions And Discussions - Indian Navy

[RISING SUN]

Why Is The Indian Navy Racing A MiG-29 & A Lamborghini?
The video you see above emerged yesterday in social media feeds, showing what appears to be an Indian Navy MiG-29K speeding along the tarmac at Goa’s Dabolim airfield, with a supercar accelerating alongside. The video, tweeted out by IAF veteran Air Marshal Anil Chopra sparked a fair bit of buzz over what was going on, and whether this was a real video. Well, Livefist can confirm it is.

The video shows an official cinematic shoot featuring one of the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K fighters from the ‘Black Panthers’ squadron based at Goa racing with a Lamborghini Huracan before the fighter lifts off into a steep climb over the Arabian Sea. The film being made will be released during Navy Week in December this year and is being pitched at Indian youth from a familiar adventure/speed angle. Love speed and daring? Sign up with the Navy — that’s the proposition.

The Indian Navy, like the Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps has a significant shortage of pilots, and needs steady interest in its flying wing to justify proposals to buy expensive new jets in the future.

An officer at the Navy’s Goa base told Livefist, “The film being made is pointed directly at the young. When it’s ready, it will be an exhilarating showcase of speed from something that many can’t really relate to — a fighter jet that costs hundreds of crores — to the things they can relate to — a sports car, for instance. The line of the film will be direct too: If you have the passion, if you crave adventure and speed, then look no further than the Indian Navy.”

The Indian Navy needs 735 pilots (its sanctioned strength) but is short by 91, the government informed Parliament in March this year. The Army is short of 192 pilots in a sanctioned strength of 794. The Indian Air Force is short by 376 pilots on a required strength of 4,231. Waning interest in the military and stubborn voids in the officer ranks continue to haunt the armed forces as they look to create leaner, younger structures.

The MiG-29K is currently the navy’s only fighter since it retired its Sea Harriers in 2016. Apart from 57 new fighters it is looking to import from abroad (shaping up to be a two-horse race between Boeing’s F/A-18 and Dassault’s Rafale), the Indian Navy’s test team has also recently demonstrated progress with the naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-N), though the aircraft in its present configuration won’t see frontline service with the navy from aircraft carriers.

The Indian Navy, in its fighter-supercar race, is inspired by a similar speed face-off from a decade ago, when the BBC’s Top Gear auto show had a Bugatti Veyron face off with a Eurofighter Typhoon:

More recently, a similar race was organised in 2014 between an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and a Lamborghini Huracán for Autocar magazine:

Why Is The Indian Navy Racing A MiG-29 & A Lamborghini?

 

[Amal]

Heavy influence of Sovremennyy-class design (Severnoe Design Bureau was consultant).

Influence is due to the selection of a Russian weapon system. Not the other way round.

 

[Noodler]

Whats with the sudden resurgence of the Naval LCA ?

 

[Ginvincible]

Whats with the sudden resurgence of the Naval LCA ?

The NLCA never really went away it was always there being worked on and used. Even if the Indian Navy isn't interested in the NLCA it is still a useful platform for testing indigenous technologies for an eventual NLCA mk2, carrier capable drone, etc.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Whats with the sudden resurgence of the Naval LCA ?

Navy signed for 2 MK1 and 4 MK2 prototypes with HAL for testing, evaluation and certification. And that much will be done.

NLCA MK1 was never supposed to go into production from day 1, therefore 2 MK1 prototypes were ordered to commemse initial testing.

 

[RISING SUN]

Indian Navy to get 6 ‘Make in India’ offshore patrol vessels at Rs 4941 crore
The defence ministry today approved a long-pending proposal to procure six indigenously manufactured next generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) for the Navy at a cost of Rs 4,941 crore, officials said. The go ahead for the project was given by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry’s highest decision making body on procurement.

The meeting of the DAC was chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The DAC accorded approval for the procurement of six indigenously designed and manufactured offshore patrol vessels at an approximate cost of Rs 4,941 crore, the officials said.

The NGOPVs will be built in Indian shipyards and will be fitted with state-of-the-art sensor suite with increased endurance, they said. These platforms will be used for multitude of operational roles which include protection of offshore assets, maritime interdiction operations and search and seizure operations, surveillance missions, mine warfare and counter infiltration operations, the defence ministry said.
Indian Navy to get 6 ‘Make in India’ offshore patrol vessels at Rs 4941 crore

 

[RISING SUN]

Indian Navy Beats 22 Other Teams To Win KAKADU-18 Cup
While reasserting its regional domination, the Indian Navy left its mark in Australia as it participated in a multilateral maritime exercise involving 27 navies.

Exercise KAKADU, which started in 1993, is a premier multilateral regional maritime engagement hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and supported by Royal Australian Air Force.

KAKADU 2018 is a biannual joint exercise taking place both ashore and at sea off the coast of Darwin. The exercise KAKADU derives its name Kakadu National Park which is a protected area in the northern territory of Australia, 171 km south-east of Darwin.

INS Sahyadri, Indian Navy
Indian Navy Beats 22 Other Teams To Win KAKADU-18 Cup

 

[R!cK]

Mazagon Dock is getting into ship repair, exports: Rakesh Anand

Rakesh Anand Rakesh Anand
IPO-bound Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd sits on a massive order book of Rs 52,000 crore, which includes different kinds of warships and Scorpene submarines. Commodore (Retd.) Rakesh Anand, chairman and managing director, talks to Ateeq Shaikh about diversification and the recent competition the company has started facing from private shipyards in the areas of naval shipbuilding and ship repairs.

Most shipyards in India are under the Ministry of Shipping, but Mazagon Dock comes under the Ministry of Defence. What makes Mazagon Dock different?
After being taken over by the government in 1960, we were the shipyard of interest for the government and the Indian Navy to start the construction activity of major warships in the country after the independence. It all started with the Leander-class frigates – six of them. Nilgiri’s construction started in 1966 and we delivered it in 1972. With that started the history of major warship construction in the country. That is where our shipyard stands and our expertise lie with the niche-end of destroyers and conventional submarines. There is no one who can match our skill set in the country, no one can build destroyers and conventional submarines, no other shipyard. This is a prized possession of Ministry of Defence. The ‘Make In India’ campaign that is ongoing, for the Indian Navy it started in 1955 when they took a decision that India will become shipbuilder’s Navy and not a ship buyer’s navy. Later, we had the three shipyards in India – Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Goa Shipyard. Later, Hindustan Shipyard was added under the fold of Ministry of Defence. Now, we are nearly 75% indigenous in our shipbuilding.

With shipbuilding and ship repair being opened for private firms, Mazagon Dock has more competition.
We are equally competitive, we have an edge over all others. Shipbuilding is not infrastructure building. It is driven by passion and skill set. I have got fourth-generation workers working here. It has taken us 60 years to reach where we are. If you build a huge infrastructure at a place and expect to start building ships there and think that you can leapfrog from nowhere to start building destroyers, it can happen like that. It is hugely skill-driven.

Is there any strategy shift in the offing to continue to bag orders?
Why should we change our strategy? We are diversifying. The reason why we were not doing that until now is that our USP in the country is destroyers. No other shipyard in India can build destroyers and we have a proven track record for the same. Nobody has done conventional submarines till now as they require three to four times more skill set.

Scorpene-class submarines are under construction with the first one already commissioned. When will you deliver the remaining?
The first one – INS Kalvari has already been delivered. The second one (Khanderi) will be delivered in October this year as it is already in the final stages. Thereafter, there will be delivery of one submarine every year.

Khanderi was to be delivered much earlier.
Yes, it is behind schedule. It will start sailing from September and will be delivered to the Navy by October-end or early November.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has opposed the government’s plan to reserve P75I for Mazagon Dock. What’s your stand?
There is a strategic partnership model. We are very clear that we will be considered for the Request For Proposal. Tell me, other than Russia, which other country in the world has two lines of submarine construction? Mazagon Dock has two lines. UK maintains a single line and both nuclear and conventional submarines are built there. The nation, as a whole, is on a learning curve in shipbuilding. We still have not learned in 60 years. We are still getting into the grips and nuances of shipbuilding and submarine construction. Today, if Mazagon Dock has to chop it off here on the learning curve and start drawing a new sapling, saying a new line is needed, it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Shutting down one line where you put in so much of an effort and so many years and wanting to grow another line just because they have built some shipyards or acquired some infrastructure. They will need to take baby steps to where we are today. That is why I said that shipbuilding is not equipment-intensive process, it is labour and skill intensive even today.

But private shipyards are of the opinion that they can deliver ships on time or before time. That is where Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders lag. Usually, with Mazagon Dock, the delay has been a year or even more.
We should look back at our history. It is very important to look where we have come from and where we are headed to. We had nothing to start with. We have taken baby steps, thanks to the visionaries back then. The private sector never existed then. No one had the money to start building ships. We gave Rs 6 crore then for the creation of Goa Shipyard and are a 47% shareholder. We must bear in mind why we get delayed in the shipbuilding process. There is an industrial ecosystem in the country. We are aggregators, we are integrators. We haven’t been making so many equipment in our country. The warship design is not frozen because the Navy gives us the basic design and we do detailed designing and there are a lot of iterations. The problem is because of the telescopic design. Today, on two major platforms we don’t know which gun is going to be installed. Some other equipment will come on the ship three years into the project. We build the lower part of the ship, the top part is left like that. This is the way you do shipbuilding. We are progressing, we are evolving. Why they (Navy) can’t decide is because they want the best and latest gun for the ship. Technology is evolving by leaps and bounds every year. This has an impact on shipbuilding, that is where we lose time. Let them get this kind of order that is weapon-intensive, equipment-intensive. Secondly, the mandate that we have includes enhancing indigenisation on the live projects and this has a cascading effect on the timeline and we pay a penalty on that. We are imposed late delivery penalties because the biggest of the engineering companies in the private sector also delay projects and equipment that they are to give by three-four years, and that impacts the timeline. Will the private sector carry this indigenisation mandate with them? The private sector pays a certain amount of late delivery penalty on Rs 100 crore, but because of the delays that accrue, we pay late delivery penalty on a Rs 5,000 crore project.

How do you intend to cut down on delays?
In the history of shipbuilding in the country, for the first time, Project 17A is being built using the modular construction methodology. The design of Project 17A of stealth frigate is from the Navy and seven ships are being built - four are with us and three with GRSE. The process of integrated construction will be given to us for the first time by Fincantieri of Italy. We are going to cut down on the time from about seven to eight years for the first of class being done in five-and-a-half years. Now, to achieve this modularity, the Navy has to be very clear on what it wants to put on the ship from the word go. In modular construction, everything goes on concurrently.

What’s the order book position and guidance?
We have a remnant order book of Rs 52,000 crore. It includes all the naval orders of 15B (four warships), 17A (four warships) and the five remaining Scorpene submarines.

What about diversification plans and commercial orders?
At the moment, we are not into commercial shipbuilding. The last merchant ship orders were for the purpose of exports and the last merchant ship was exported to Mexico and Bahamas in 2014. Now, we are getting into ship repair. At Nhava (Navi Mumbai), 40 acre land has been secured. We now have infrastructure available there. We have capacity constraints at the existing shipyard. We are also in discussion with the Mumbai Port Trust for contiguous land, right next door of about 13 acre. In these areas, we will be looking for additional export business. At Nhava, shipbuilding is underway, another unit will come for our diversification into exports and ship repairs. We already have an order from the Navy for medium refit of the SSK-Class submarine, we will be starting that from October. Profit as well as churning in ship repair business is higher/faster as compared to shipbuilding.

How much revenue do you expect from ship repairs?
Maybe, in this diversified portfolio of exports and ship repairs, it should be around Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,500 crore of an additional turnover. For submarine repair business, we have already got Rs 1,100 crore order starting October, for two years. We are venturing into the export business. We foresee that in a year we should get at least Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore. The export orders would mostly be for warships for South-East Asia. Many South-East Asian countries as well as African countries (Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Kenya, Senegal, Algeria, etc,) have expressed interest in getting warships made from India.

Mazagon Dock is getting into ship repair, exports: Rakesh Anand

 

[Ashwin]

Indian Navy's Information management and analysis centre (IMAC) at Gurgaon.

 

[vstol Jockey]

Do you see the map in background? This is how IN keeps track of ships.

 

[RISING SUN]

Indian Navy chief to present paper at US defence symposium
Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba is visiting Rhode Island from September 18 to 22 for attending the 23rd edition of the International Sea-Power Symposium (ISS) organised by the US Navy.
He is scheduled to present his views on the topic 'Defending the Maritime Commons: Safeguarding the Free and International Order' and participate in panel discussion during the symposium.
During his visit, Admiral Lanba is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Admiral US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John M. Richardson; Indo-Pacific Command (INDO-PACOM) Commander Admiral Philip S. Davidson; Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Commander Admiral John C Aquilino; Commander Naval Forces, Europe, Admiral James G. Foggo and Commander of the 5th Fleet, Vice Admiral Scott Stearney.
In addition, he would be interacting with chiefs of navies of Japan, France, Australia, the UK, Malaysia and Sweden.
The US has accorded 'Major Defence Partner' status to India in June 2016.
"The Indian Navy engages with the US Navy on numerous issues, which include operational interactions such as the MALABAR and RIMPAC series of exercises, training exchanges, exchange of white shipping information, all of which are coordinated through the medium of Executive Steering Group (ESG) meetings conducted annually," an official release said.
"In addition, warships from both navies regularly make port calls at each other's ports," it added.
Indian Navy chief to present paper at US defence symposium

 

[R!cK]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1044869283149500418

 

[_Anonymous_]

India inks $950 million deal for Russian frigates

 

[R!cK]

India has assured second-strike capability: Chief Naval Admiral Sunil Lanba
By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | Nov 13, 2018, 11.32 PM IST

The Rafale controversy will have no bearing on the Indian Navy’s quest for 57 new fighter jets, said Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba. He said India is keeping an eye and “doing its bit” to tackle the increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region. Lanba spoke with Manu Pubby as 32 member-nations and observers of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium gather in Kochi to mark its tenth anniversary. Excerpts:

How significant is the announced deterrence patrol of the INS Arihant nuclear missile submarine?
The PM has said it all and the only thing that I can say is that we have now demonstrated the sea vectors capability by doing the deterrence patrol. Our nuclear policy is of ‘no first use’ and the deterrence patrol has demonstrated that you have an assured second-strike capability.

There have been reports of increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region. How is this being countered by the Indian Navy?
Operationally at sea, the mission-based deployments, which we have been doing for over a year, have ensured that the entry and exit routes of the Indian Ocean Region—the choke points—are all being monitored. We have permanent presence now in many parts including the Mallaca Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal. So, our domain awareness has improved.

Have we been monitoring the presence of these assets in our region?
All deployments of Peoples Liberation Army (Navy) ships and submarines are being monitored. They are always being welcomed by us when they enter the region, so we know what is happening. India does not have the deep pockets that China has—they have spent a lot of money on infrastructure, including ports that are economically unviable. We have seen their first overseas base in Djibouti and there has been a continuous deployment (in the Gulf of Aden) since 2008. The Indian government is working along with nations in the Indian Ocean Region, in Africa and in South Asia and there are a number of initiatives, from investments to line of credits. So, India as a nation is doing its bit.

A key part of the Indian Navy’s plans to ensure presence in the region has been the quest for a third aircraft carrier. Are those plans still on track?
The plan is still on track and we are working to take it forward to get inprinciple approval for a second aircraft carrier (after the under construction INS Vikrant at Kochi). We have decided the form and fit—it will be a 65,000 ton CATOBAR (catapult assisted take off but arrested landing) carrier and will be conventionally powered. It is central to the Navy’s philosophy to have three aircraft carrier battle groups.

The Navy is also looking for 57 new fighter jets for its second aircraft carrier. Do you think the Rafale controversy will have a bearing towards this procurement?
We should be able to issue the RFP (request for proposal) for this towards the end of 2019. And, I do not think that present occurrences should have any linkage to this at all.

The Navy has traditionally been at the forefront of ‘Make in India’ but the health of private sector shipyards has been a matter of concern. Is having the private sector sustainable, given the financial ill health of the Reliance Naval yard as well?
Over 200 ships have already been built in India for the Navy, from sea wards defence ships to the aircraft carrier that is under construction. We opened the sector to the private industry but, unfortunately for us, the shipping industry world over collapsed post 2007-08. So, two of the yards have gone bust—Bharti and ABG. The present lot of private yards are having their own financial challenges but we are very keen that there is participation from both the public and private sector yards in our shipbuilding programmes. We need them so that we can build our capability at a much faster rate and I wish that Reliance can sort out its issues.

On the strategic partnerships model for the private sector, how fast do you see the submarine programme progressing? Will Mazagon Dock and Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) also be a part of the programme?
The process itself has been approved and the specifics for the submarine segment have been drafted and will now come up for approval of the defence acquisition council. We are hopeful that the first among the strategic partnership programmes will be the Naval Utility Helicopters, for which we already have clearances. We are hopeful that the submarine segment will also get approved and we can take this forward. We would also like MDL to be one of the yards to be part of the submarine building programme as they have demonstrated capabilities.

Can you share updates on the plan to build minesweepers in India, as well as the two frigates to be constructed at the Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL)?
We have signed a contract with Russia for two of the Project 11356 class frigates and we will now sign a contract with GSL for the balance two that are to be made in India. On the minesweepers, we think GSL should be able to issue a new expression of interest and we are hopeful that we will have a multi vendor situation this time.

India has assured second-strike capability: Chief Naval Admiral Sunil Lanba - The Economic Times

 

[RISING SUN]

India, Indonesia launch their maiden naval exercise
The first bilateral naval exercise named “Samudra Shakti” between the Indian and the Indonesian Navies was inaugurated on Tuesday in Surabaya, Indonesia giving further momentum to bilateral strategic partnership. These bilateral naval exercises will be conducted in Java Sea and would last until 18 November.

Rear Admiral Mintoro Yulianto, S.Sos, M.Si, Commander of the Second Fleet Command at Puslatkaprang (from the Indonesian Navy) along with H.E. Ambassador Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Ambassador of India to Indonesia and Rear Adm Alok Bhatnagar, NM, witnessed the opening ceremony at the Headquarters of the Second Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy. Both sides underscored he importance of increased cooperation between two close maritime neighbours for ensuring maritime safety and security.

The commencement of this bilateral naval exercise marks a significant forward step in the operational engagement between the two navies following the Ind-Indo Corpat which have been ongoing since 2002. INS Rana ( a destroyer class vessel) commanded by Capt Arun Deswal, will be participating from the Indian Navy and from the Indonesian Navy the units participating would include KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda and Maritime Patrol Aircrafts.

The exercise would be held in two phases: the harbour phase and followed by the sea phase. During the harbour phase there will be course deck visits, and discussions between experts in areas of mutual interest including communication inter-operability. During the sea phase, the ships will conduct various activities pertaining to maritime safety and security, including Search and Rescue as well as procedures of investigating and engaging various types of hostile platforms at sea.

In addition to the exercises and operational level engagements, there are regular exchanges and discussion ongoing between experts of the two navies. The scope of training exchanges has also been expanded to include specialised training based on area of interest. The 6th edition of the bilateral army exercise Garuda Shakti was held in Indonesia earlier this year, and discussions are also ongoing for conduct of bilateral Air Force Exercise later next year.

It may be noted that following Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia in end May, it was decided to upgrade the bilateral relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and both sides had released a Shared Vision for the Indo Pacific Statement, which underscored deepening of maritime cooperation.
India, Indonesia launch their maiden naval exercise

 

[RISING SUN]

Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff to Visit Russia (26 to 29 November 2018)
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy is visiting Russia from 26 to 29 November 2018. The visit aims to consolidate bilateral defence relations with Russia, as also to explore new avenues for defence cooperation.

The CNS will be commencing his official visit from St Petersburg on 26 November 2018, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, Commander-in-Chief, Russian Federation Navy (RuFN). The Admiral is also scheduled to lay a wreath at Piskarev Memorial Cemetery dedicated to the victims of the ‘Siege of Leningrad’ and visit the Nakhimov Naval School and Admiralty Shipyard. At Moscow, the Admiral will have discussions with General VV Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister of the Russian Federation and Mr. Dmitriy Shugaev, Director, Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of the Russian Federation. The Admiral will also visit the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and deliver a talk on “Indian Navy’s Perspective on Maritime Security”.

The Indian Navy cooperates with the Russian Federation Navy on many fronts, which include operational interactions, training, hydrography cooperation and exchange of Subject Matter Experts in various fields through the medium of Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks. In addition, the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy have been conducting the bilateral Maritime Exercise ‘INDRA NAVY’, since 2003 and INDRA Tri-Services Exercise since 2017. The next edition of Exercise INDRA-Navy is scheduled off Visakhapatnam in December 2018.
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff to Visit Russia (26 to 29 November 2018)

 

[randomradio]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1069478343651794944

https://twitter.com/x/status/1069480585431781376

https://twitter.com/x/status/1069494332040851457

 

[_Anonymous_]

Warriors of the Sea

 

[R!cK]

Safeguarding Future of Indian Navy
December 3, 2018

The Indian Navy is building its capacity to be the net-centric security provider in the Indian Ocean, but presently there are some capability deficits in certain key areas, which need to be addressed urgently. The dayafter Editor In-chief Sunil Dang talks to Chief of Naval Staff Sunil Lanba and fishes out the Indian Navy and Government of India’s plans in this regard. Edited excerpts:

It has been reported in media that Indian Navy requires Utility Helicopters on an urgent basis? Please put light on the matter.

The total holding of Utility Helicopters (Chetak) in the Indian Navy inventory is depleting due to ageing of helicopters, limited support and obsolete technology resulting in poor serviceability and limited availability. These vintage helicopters are not certified for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Flights, and hence can only be flown in fair weather and during the day, where Visual Flight Rules Flights are permitted.

The Naval Utility Helicopters being planned as a replacement for Chetak helicopters will possess the capability to operate at night and under IFR weather conditions. They would be equipped with radar surveillance capability, capable of limited armament delivery, and would possess a Self-Protection Suite to enhance operational effectiveness of the ship. The NUH, being progressed under the Strategic Partnership Model, has been accorded AON for 111 helicopter by DAC.

Are these 111 Utility helicopters enough to meet the Indian Navy’s demand?

The planned induction of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters in a phased manner from 2024-2035 through the Strategic Partnership model will be able to meet Indian Navy requirements till 2050.

How long do you think it would take for India to make considerable progress in developing underwater deterrence?

The Indian Navy has a strength of 15 submarines, which includes the nuclear-powered submarine Chakra (SSN), the 1stKalvari class Scorpene submarine, 9 Sindhughosh class submarines and 4 Shishumar class submarines. The 2nd and 3rd Kalvari class submarine are likely to be commissioned by end 2019. While there have been delays in procurement of new generation P75(I) submarines, the submarine force levels have been maintained through life extension of our in-service submarines. Our current submarine strength provides the Indian Navy with formidable combat potential to deter any potential adversary.

Few years before the Mumbai attacks, a Coastal Security Scheme was launched in 2005 that was being handled by its border management division in two phases: Phase I from 2005 to 2011 and Phase II from 2011 to 2020. What is the progress in achieving its objectives?

The setting-up of the State Marine Police in coastal States and Union Territories by all coastal States and Union Territories, with the support of MHA through the Coastal Security Scheme, was indeed a landmark step towards strengthening coastal security. It is a fact that the timeline for implementation of second phase of the Coastal Security Scheme has extended beyond the planned period and there is still some way to go. While action on some aspects of Phase II of the scheme is now complete, or near complete, in some others the progress has been slow, but is being monitored regularly by MHA. We believe that the State Marine Police is a key element of the coastal security construct, and we would do well to retain our focus on strengthening the police in coastal States and Union Territories for their maritime role.

The government of India has been reiterating that it is committed towards the modernization of the Indian Navy. As CNS, are you satisfied with those steps? What are the steps being taken towards the same?

The modernization of Indian Navy is an ongoing process, which is undertaken in accordance with the Maritime Capability Perspective Pan (MCPP) as well as the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP).The Navy’s modernization plans are aimed at inducting capabilities to effectively undertake missions across the entire spectrum of conflict.

Whilst the Navy’s modernization programme is progressing smoothly, there are gaps in certain niche areas such as aircraft carrier, submarines, multi-role and utility helicopters, minesweepers and amphibious ships. The Government is seized of these issues and steps are being taken to ensure that capability shortfalls are overcome at the earliest. Presently, 34 ships and submarines are under construction for the Navy, of which32 are being built in various Indian shipyards.

Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been accorded for 53 ships and six submarines. These platforms will replace the existing ships and submarines while also augmenting our force levels. Additionally, contracts have been signed for procurement of four additional P8I and 12 Dornier aircraft and 16 ALH and eight helicopters. Further, AoN for 24 Multi Role Helicopters through FMS Route and 111 Naval Utility Helicopters through Strategic Partnership Model has been accorded.

In addition, capability enhancement is also being addressed through Mid Life Upgrade (MLU), wherein vintage weapons, sensors and equipment are upgraded through requisite modifications and replaced with more contemporary systems. Procurement of new weapons, sensors and equipment including several indigenous cases under the ‘Make in India’ initiative have contributed towards efforts to maintain the ideal mix of state-of-the-art, current and vintage weapon, equipment and sensors.

The Indian Navy remains a balanced, multi-dimensional force with modern surface, sub-surface and air assets, capable of defending our national interests. The force levels will gradually increase to ensure that adequate assets, both in terms of capacity and capability, are available to meet future maritime security needs of the nation.

Safeguarding Future of Indian Navy - THE DAYAFTER

 

[Himanshu]

Indian Navy's coastal battery project in Bay of Bengal on track

Kolkata: The Indian Navy's ambitious coastal battery project at Sagar Island in the Bay of Bengal has been back on track as a land of 11 acres has been identified in the delta region and the land acquisition process is underway though the project's concept and shape have been changed from a permanent to a temporary one and from static to mobile. This was informed by Naval Officer-in-Charge (West Bengal) Commodore Suprobho K De on Monday.

"The coastal battery project was never closed in principle. It is still underway. Progress about the project became a bit slow earlier somehow. The entire concept is now about having a temporary and mobile infrastructure for firing missles. It is now conceived as a mobile coastal battery," he said at INS Netaji Subhas in Hastings on the eve of the Navy Day celebrations.

Commodore De elaborated, "We were looking for a land of around 11 acres to set up a naval base from where Brahmos missles can be fired. The land has been identified. The process of take it over is on. We have received clearance from the environment ministry. It was earlier pending. However the transport link to the proposed base is essential to rush a vehicle, carrying a missile for firing, from the city. If good roads are built it will be helpful for the project."

He added that a status report would be sent to the Eastern Naval Command Headquarters in Vizag which would be submitted to the ministry of defence through the Navy headquarters in New Delhi. A land-based coastal batteries is built to perform a defensive role against attacking enemy warships and aircrafts, seaward defence of harbour, air defence of port and surveillance and monitoring of the country's coastline.

Post 26/11 Mumbai terror strike the Indian Navy embarked upon setting up the coastal battery project with a radar system 2013 onwards to tackle the sudden rise in naval acquisitions by Bangladesh and foreign ships' movements.

On the Chinese ships suspicious movements in the Indian Ocean Commodore De explained, "Navy is entrusted for ensuring maritime security to a nation. China is developing their navy for their security. We also have our resources and plan. We have measures to monitor ships coming and going. We have methods to take action as long as you know a ship's activity and intention. So it is not that we do not know what is happening in the Indian Ocean."

On the Automatic Identification System (AIS)-based registration of the boats for coastal security Commodore De stated that around 70 per cent of boats in West Bengal have been AIS registered and fitted with transponders. According to Navy sources, the state has around 14000 accounted boats but the unaccounted figure stands at least 6000 alone.