India to flaunt warship in South-East Asia

Rising interest from South East Asian countries in India’s indigenous warship building capability has resulted in the inclusion of a lo...

Rising interest from South East Asian countries in India’s indigenous warship building capability has resulted in the inclusion of a locally-built Naval warship as part of the fleet accompanying Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash to Port Kelang in Malaysia and Jakarta at the end of July.

The indigenous missile corvette will be part of a fleet of five ships, including the Navy’s sole aircraft carrier INS Viraat which will be making its first visit to South East Asian waters during the visit. The other three ships will be decided over the next week.

Shipyards in India are currently engaged in the manufacture of 19 Naval warships, including guided missile destroyers, frigates, patrol craft and corvettes.

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In fact, a locally-built 260 ton fast attack craft (INS Batti Malv), of a type the Singaporean and Malaysian navies have shown a special interest in, was unveiled yesterday in Kolkata to be deployed in the Andaman & Nicobar islands.

While Admiral Prakash is travelling on the invitation of the Navy chiefs of Malaysia and Indonesia who visited New Delhi last year, significant discussions could form part of the proceedings in both countries, including talks on joint patrolling, coordinated action against smuggling and piracy, and the crucial issue of policing the Strait of Malacca that runs between Indonesia and Malaysia, as reported by Express on June 11.

With India and the US entering into a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement today, with clauses that involve joint-patrolling of global waters, the Malacca Strait issue becomes even more significant.

The July-end visit to Port Kelang in Malaysia and Jakarta will be one of the most emphatic gestures of the Navy Chief’s comprehensive ‘Look East’ policy.

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Earlier this month, Admiral Arun Prakash had said, “We have certain responsibilities in the Indian Ocean Region towards safeguarding national maritime interests, and also an international obligation to ensure peace and tranquility so that seaborne trade and commerce and continue unhindered. The Indian Navy is fully capable of discharging these roles.”