NUCLEAR SUBMARINE & AIRCRAFT CARRIER ARE REQUIRED FOR EXTENDED NAVAL OPERATIONS – ADMIRAL SUREESH MEHTA

 

Mumbai
09 May 08;Vaisakha 19, 1930
 

Nuclear powered submarines and three aircraft carrier are essentially required for the Indian Navy to strengthen its fleet strength and to ensure blue water operational capability, said Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of Naval Staff during a press conference held today at the Western Naval Command Officers’ Mess, Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai.

While briefing the media on conclusion of the three days Naval Commanders’ Conference held at Western Naval Command, Mumbai Admiral Mehta said, that as per the long term perspective plan of the Indian Navy, presently 34 ships are under construction in different shipyards of the country and 6 submarines would be inducted soon. 6 more submarines would be inducted in the years to come. He Further mentioned that, it is desirable that Indian Navy has atleast 3 aircraft carrier at any given time in the fleets. Presently the only aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy INS Viraat is under refit and non operational. The ship is being prepared as a stop-gap arrangement till ‘INS Vikramaditya’ is inducted into the Indian Navy.

The Naval Commanders’ Conference is the highest decision making body of the Indian Navy which was inaugurated by the Chief of Naval Staff on Wednesday, 07 May 08. The annual conference deliberates upon major operational issues with the regards to the defence of the Nation’s Maritime Interests, Coastal Security, Defence of National Assets at sea, naval strategy, its own operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two services.

Replying to the media Admiral Mehta informed that the navy remains operationally focused force, capable and dealing with the challenging environment of the 21st century, surveillance of the seas around us as also real time exchange of information through network centric operations assumes greater significance today. In house development of the net centric communication system is in progress and would be fully integrated with indigenous satellite communication system. A cooperative maritime operation in the Indian Ocean is the necessity. In this regard the Indian Navy has taken the initiative and recently held a Naval Symposium of the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.

Admiral Mehta said, that it has to be ensured that the countries maritime interest is protected by a well balanced force level in the Fleet. In the coming years, the Indian Navy would be called upon to play a significantly larger role so as to be a regionally relevant force and be in a position to not only counter any existing and identifiable threats but also to discharge its responsibilities of maintaining, safeguarding and furthering our nation’s maritime interests including those related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Replying on the existing shortage of the officers cadre in the navy, the Chief of Naval Staff informed, that soon a four year degree course (B.Tech) will be introduced in the Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. Students after 10+2 will be selected to undergo this course and commissioned on completion of the basic training in different branches of the Navy. This would be in addition to the different entry schemes available to the youth for joining the navy.

 

 

NAVAL COMMANDERS’ CONFERENCE-2008
 
 Mumbai
 07 May 08;Vaisakha 17, 1930

 

The Naval Commanders’ Conference is the highest decision making body of the navy. It meets annually to deliberate upon major operational issues with regard to the Defence of the Nation’s Maritime Interests, Coastal Security, Defence of National Assets at sea, naval strategy, its own operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two services.

The conference is being held at the Western Naval Command Headquarters at Mumbai from 07 to 09 May 08. the conference is inaugurated by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff and attended by the highest echelons of the Navy from the Integrated Headquarters at New Delhi, three Command Headquarters and the two Fleets.

Over the last decade, the Maritime Security Environment is the Indian ocean region has become more complex, fluid and significantly more volatile. Alongwith the nation’s economic success and elevation in international stature, the nation’s regional responsibilities have also increased. To discharge these, a strong and effective navy is essential.

In the coming years, the Indian Navy would be called upon to play a significantly larger role so as to be a regionally relevant force and be in a position to not only counter any existing and identifiable threats but also to discharge its responsibilities of maintaining, safeguarding and furthering our nation’s maritime interests including those related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

To ensure that the navy remains operationally focused force, capable and dealing with the challenging environment of the 21st century, surveillance of the seas around us as also real time exchange of information through network centric operations assumes greater significance today and these are the primary focus areas of this year’s conference. Further, some major platforms in all three dimensions of the navy’s operation are scheduled for induction and integration of these platforms and weapon systems into the overall concept of operations assumes significance and the naval commanders would deliberate on these issues as well.