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 IDU
has already posted a Navy Day SWOT Piece and IDU salutes the
Navy on Navy Day. The Navy is India's strategic arm and the
earlier the nation understands that the better for future
generations. It is a fine Navy India has.
At
the outset IDU must quote from an excellent Press Briefing
CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma gave to the media and the opening
needs to be quoted in full as many ex servicemen will be pleased
and the nation will see the confidence seen in the Navy and
IDU adds the only arm China has great respect for is the Indian
Navy and of course cares for India's capable Air Force and
large traditional Army and Kanti Bajpai at IDSA says there
is no normal way China and India will go to war. IDU agrees
But
IDU is convinced the Stirrings Of Cold War between China and
USA have begun and this time it IS ECONOMY MARITIME ISSUES
AND WATER, and India is being drawn in to it by USA Australia
and Japan. Hopefully an article in latest Geo Politics explains
that by Ranjit Rai.
QUOTE
FROM CNS The Navy Day is an occasion for me to avail the opportunity
to express my appreciation, to each and every service and
civilian member of the navy, for their service to our nation,
as also, my acknowledgment of the contribution by their families…….And
finally, on behalf of the naval fraternity, I place on record,
our deepest gratitude and respect to our martyrs and our veteran
community who have built the strong edifice and traditions
of the Indian Navy. In their recognition, year 2012 has been
dedicated as the 'Year for the Ex-Serviceman'.
To
begin CNS aptly dug out a quote from Mark Twain for the media,
"Only the Sun and the Press can carry light to all corners
of the globe"…..How true and he thanked the Media
for taking defence related news and views to all parts of
the country, and gave a tribute to all illustrious naval predecessors,
with special mention of late Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson,
who passed away in November. Dawson as DNO was one of the
architects of the events of 04 Dec 1971.
Overview Of Facts
More
than 90% of India's trade by volume and 77% by value is transported
over the seas. Over 97% of our energy needs of oil are either
imported or produced from offshore fields. Consequently, our
economic growth is inextricably linked to the seas, and hence
this year's theme, for the Navy Day - 'Safe Seas and Secure
Coasts for a Strong Nation'.
CNS
stated with confidence the Navy is prepared to meet any form
of traditional threat, and is in the process of acquiring
capabilities and realigning its operational ethos to needs
of MDA and IN maintained its momentum towards enhancing maritime
security and safeguarding our economic and strategic interests.
Today, the Navy stands committed towards contributing to stability
in our area of primary interest, that is the Indian Ocean
Region.
Capability
Building
For
maintaining a force structure, an implementable Navy has formulated
the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan and formalised
the XII plan for 2012-17.
Navy's
preferred choice of inducting ships and submarines has been
through the indigenous route and of the 49 ships and submarines
presently on order, 45 are from Indian shipyards.
The
Navy's quest for indigenisation has resulted in our Public
Sector Shipyards being given an unprecedented number of orders
for warship and submarine construction and two private shipyards
have been awarded contracts for construction of Offshore Patrol
Vessels and Training Ships for the Navy. CNS said private
sector shipyards have to scale up to deliver state-of-the-art
warships that meet our future needs in time frames that match
global standards.
The
"Naval Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap"
is ready to keep the industry informed will help boost the
participation of the private sector in the defence production
process, particularly with regard to Naval systems. Navy's
has successes in this regard, and the indigenous Combat Management
System, which is currently at various stages of integration
in r new induction platforms was quoted.
This
year Navy concluded eight important contracts which include
contracts for four destroyers, five Offshore Patrol Vessels
to Pipavav but IDU learns design is not frozen, two Cadet
Training Ships to ABG, eight Landing Craft Utility to GRSE
and Fast Interceptor Craft for coastal security duties to
many yards. CNS said he is looking forward to soon concluding
contracts for Mine Counter Measure vessels and P 17A frigates.
In
2012 one Shivalik class frigate - Sahyadri, one Offshore Patrol
Vessel, one Kolkata class destroyer at MDL, one P-28 ASW Corvette
at GRSE, three Catamaran Hull Survey Vessels at Alcock Ashdown
and twenty five Fast Interceptor Craft will be delivered.
over the next one year. INS Vikramaditya is progressing on
track in cold Severdonsik for delivery December 2012. The
three Follow-on ships of Talwar class, under construction
at Russia are likely to be delivered in the time frame 2012-13.
IDU learns a BrahMos missile system for a dummy out from INS
Teg was successful on 30th Nov off Yantar.and needs confirmation
as Larsen and Toubro Universal Launching System has been installed.
If true BZ.
The
planned induction of twelve P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol
aircraft to add more teeth to this capability, is on schedule
with the first flight of the P-8I for the Indian Navy took
place on the 28th of Sept. Acquisition of Medium Range Maritime
Reconnaissance aircraft is also being progressed concurrently.
IDU learns 6 have been shortlisted.
The
delivery of 16 carrier borne MiG 29K aircraft, as per the
initial contract will be completed by the end of the year
with a contract for 29 more aircraft, the delivery of which
is likely to commence from April next year. The Naval version
of the LCA is under development and two main engine runs of
the first prototype have been carried out. The induction of
Hawk AJT commencing 2013 would facilitate advanced training
of IN's young pilots in developing requisite flying skills
over sea prior to graduating to deck based fighter aircraft.
On
Infrastructure
Phase I of the Naval Base at Karwar, under Project Seabird,
has been completed this year and other infrastructure in the
Naval base. In addition, the Navy is also in the process of
setting up Operational Turn Around (OTR) bases, Forward Operating
Bases and Naval Air Enclaves along the coast which would enhance
the reach and sustainability of our surveillance effort.
The
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep and Minicoy
Islands. These islands are the country's strategic outposts
and augmentation of the facilities would enhance our reach
and enable extended presence in the area. IDU has posted China's
String of Pearls Vs India's Iron Curtain theory as in Chinese
Andaman is a Iron Chain.
CNS
listed the exercises in some detail and said the most notable
amongst them was the deployment for evacuation of our citizens
from Libya in March this year as part of Operation Blossom
and a Readiness Exercise, TROPEX 11. another disaster relief
operation. Navy participated in the flood relief efforts in
Odisha in September.
Piracy
off the coast of Somalia has grown steadily over the years.
While 217 attacks were reported off Somalia and in the Indian
Ocean in 2009, they increased to 219 in 2010. Due to sustained
efforts of navies and the shipping community, the success
rate of piracy has dropped from 38% in 2008 to 11% this year.
Close
to 1900 ships have been escorted by IN ships in the Gulf of
Aden of these the foreign flagged ships are close to 1700.
During its deployments for anti-piracy operations, Indian
Naval ships have prevented 39 piracy attempts on merchant
vessels.
The
Navy is setting up the National Command Control Communication
Intelligence or (NC3I) Network envisaged for coastal security
which would be an independent network and interlink all the
Coastal Stations with the Joint Maritime Operations Centres
and the Headquarters of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
Human Resource Development
There
is 18% shortage in HR and CNS was clear that human resource
is Navy's most precious asset and civilian personnel form
the backbone of our maintenance force and have longstanding
expertise, and said we can ill afford to lose. I am optimistic
that Cabinet approval would be accorded in the near future
for expansion of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala.
Modified
Assured Career Progression Scheme, that has bolstered our
the Navy-IGNOU Community College Scheme, Sagardeep, is a distinctive
HR measure that will empower sailors, irrespective of entry-level
qualification, branch or trade. The signing of the MoU this
year between the Indian Navy and the Indira Gandhi National
Open University has been a landmark event that will facilitate
higher education amongst our sailors, thereby benefitting
the Navy whilst significantly equipping our personnel for
their second innings.
Sports and Adventure
IDU
sees Navy has done well for its size. Naval sportsmen have
so far represented the country at various International sports
events during the current year and have won 01 Gold, 02 Silver
and 05 Bronze medals. Cdr Dilip Donde was awarded the Tenzing
Norgay Adventure Award for his exemplary feat of successfully
completing the maiden Solo Circumnavigation by an Indian,
onboard the sailing yacht 'Mhadei' in 2011, Suranjoy Singh,
MCPO II PT of the Navy Boxing team has been bestowed with
the prestigious "Arjuna Award" for excelling in
boxing for the year 2010-11. Sanjeev Rajput, MCPO II QA 3
of the Navy shooting team has qualified for the London Olympics
2012 in 50 Meters Rifle 3 Positions event. Ashok Kumar, Chief
ME, Omkar Singh, Chief Petty Officer and Samarendra Singh,
Leading Steward have won medals at the international level
in wrestling, air pistol shooting and canoeing respectively.
SHAN NO VARUNA JAI HIND.
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