India has positioned itself as a natural leader of the Indian Ocean region due to it’s strategic location and operational capability. The Indian Navy was asked to be prepared to meet any eventualities in view of the complex emerging security matrix in the region.
India has a very strategic location in the Indian Ocean and the professional capability of the navy makes it a natural leader and is thus destined to play a leading role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
The navy has a well oiled material and training assistance programme with other smaller countries in the Indian ocean and is aggressively helping them build their capacity and skills.
The entire Indian Ocean region is very complex due to emerging political & military developments and worrisome factors.India’s defence minister has asked the navy top brass to maintain high levels of preparedness at all times.
The defence minister stressed on free movement of trade and energy supplies and various economic activities such as fishing and extraction of mineral resources in the IOR as it is absolutely crucial for India’s economic security.
The induction of the nuclear powered submarine, INS Chakra, last month has ushered in a new era of submarine operations for India. It is also on the verge of inducting an aircraft carrier from Russia by the end of this year.
The nuclear submarine has placed India in a select group of navies that operate such sophisticated platforms. We must ensure that INS Chakra is utilised effectively to harness it’s real potential and also evolve operational concepts for future platforms.
The Indian navy is well on course to acquire new potent platforms to add to it’s blue water strike capability.
“The induction of INS Vikramaditya in the near future, the potent MiG-29K combat planes as well as P8-I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft would strengthen the navy further. Recently, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) for the navy made it’s successful maiden flight,” he said.
Commending the navy’s commitment to indigenisation, Antony said, “this is amply borne by the fact that 44 out of 48 ships and submarines, presently on order, are being constructed in India.”
Antony asked the public sector shipyards to speed up construction of warships and submarines and further modernise the infrastructure and technology of ship-production.
The navy’s ultimate goal is reducing it’s dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly in areas of advanced technology.
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