Eye on China,Eastern Naval Command gets an upgrade

We have been upgrading the Eastern Naval Command and it is an effort to further bolster the front with the deployment of INS Jalaswa,a landing ship tank,said a Navy officer.

The eastern command came into existence in 1968 and its jurisdiction includes the Bay of Bengal.

The Navy will also deploy the new INS Shivalik stealth frigate and plans to create additional bases to strengthen the existing ones.

Currently,the command has bases in Vizag,Chennai and Kolkata.

The Navy plans additional bases where the INS Parundu will be used as air station for UAVs.

An operational turnaround base will also be created at the Pardeep and Tuticorin bases,said Navy officials.

Sunil Lanba will be the first officer to occupy the upgraded position from May 1. Lanba is currently the Maharashtra Naval areas Flag Officer in the rank of Rear Admiral.

The post upgrade at the Eastern Naval Command comes a year after it was upgraded at the Mumbai-based Western Naval Command,considered the sword arm of the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan is currently the chief of staff at the Western Naval Command.