Navy keen on N-subs

“On another front, the Navy and the Coast Guard managed to recapture a Japanese ship that had been taken over by pirates off the Mumbai coast. The operation was lauded by the International Maritime Department and the Japanese Government.”

“Of late, however, gun-running, drug trafficking and encroachments on islands in the Andaman region have assumed menacing proportions. What is disturbing is that boats used in such clandestine operations are faster than several naval ships. "In a new trend, some of these boats have been found equipped with cell phones and GPS! Archaic laws, too, help the culprits evade justice,” he said.

To checkmate such elements, the Navy has initiated confidence-building measures with neighbouring navies. Once in two years, navies of seven nations meet the grouping is called `Milan’ to take stock of the situation. In February next year, they propose to hold the International Fleet Review, the largest of its kind inthe world, off the Mumbai coast. The admiral said the theme would be: building bridges.

Presently, the Navy’s main concern is to undertake a conscious effort to indigenise. The recent inductions of INS Delhi and INS Mysore are a step in the same direction. In cases where indigenisation will take time, the Navy has to go in for a buy.

To tide over the gap left by the decommissioning of INS Vikrant, the Navy is going to purchase Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. While it may serve for the next 10-15 years, the Navy has received sanction for an air defence ship project. It is also approaching the government for a submarine building project.

In the final analysis, the Navy looks set to meet both its military and peacetime role. As Pasricha said: “The peacetime role of the Navy is like preparing for an exam that may never take place.”

Naval might on display

CHENNAI: The Indian Navy held a stunning display of its might on Saturday. The naval exercise was led by the modified Kashin-classdestroyer, INS Rajput, accompanied by sister ship, INS Rana.

The show began with a demonstration by `submarine-killer’ chopper, Ka-25. The Kamov has a unique way of submarine detection. Hovering in mid-air, it lowers a sensor into the water and picks up signals from possible hostile submarines. Playing the target in this cat and mouse game was magnificent submarine INS Karanj. What mesmerised the crowd was the rocket firing and close-range anti-aircraft firing (CRAA). The navy also displayed the surface-to-air missiles, each costing Rs 3-4 crore.