India is building a powerful Navy to protect its maritime interests and be “a net security provider“ in the IOR, with 42 warships and six submarines on order for construction in domestic shipyards for around Rs 3 lakh crore.
Indian Navy will soon test fire a long-range surface-to-air missile, jointly developed by India and Israel, aiming to enhance its capabilities against incoming missiles, planes and drones. If the test is successful, it will pave the way for final installation of Barak 8 missile on board Indian warships. The missile had undergone a successful test in Israel last November.
The INS Kolkata
"The test will be held during the coming monsoon so that actual operating challenge is created," defence sources said adding that it would be held on INS Kolkata. Confirming this Admiral Dhowan said,“We have dovetailed the new infrastructure plan with the maritime capability perspective plan till 2027,“ .
The INS Kolkata
"The test will be held during the coming monsoon so that actual operating challenge is created," defence sources said adding that it would be held on INS Kolkata. Confirming this Admiral Dhowan said,“We have dovetailed the new infrastructure plan with the maritime capability perspective plan till 2027,“ .
India is trying to counter China's forging of deep maritime links with eastern Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, among others in the IOR, over the last decade.
Admiral Robin Dhowan, on the sideline of naval commanders' conference, said, “PLA Navy's activities are minutely monitored by the Indian Navy . Our belief is that it's the Indian Navy's responsibility to protect the IOR and our coastlines. Our warships, submarines and aircraft are always on alert to ensure our maritime interests are protected,“.
But the Indian Navy India has invited Chinese warships for its International Fleet Review (IFR) early next year, that will be held at Visakhapatnam from February 5 to 8. Almost 100 warships from over 50 countries are slated to participate in the IFR, the second such review to be held by India after the one in Mumbai in 2001, though it remains concerned about the expanding footprint of the People's Liberation Army (Navy) in the Indian Ocean Region.
India naturally have suspicion on Chinese intention , but opted to play down China's recent white paper on defence, which vows to increase its “open seas protection“ far from its shores, the Navy chief said it was “normal and natural“ for every military force to plan for the entire spectrum of conflict from defence
to offence.
Admiral Dhowan said India had an effective maritime cooperation road map with all its neighbours in the IOR, which includes both capacity as well as capability building. “We have looked at what kind of assistance can be provided, whether it is in terms of training and equipment, carrying out patrols, hydro graphic surveys etc,“ he said.
