Indian Navy News & Discussions

[RPK]

Vice Admiral Dhowan takes charge as new Navy Deputy Chief

New Delhi, Nov 30(ANI): Vice Admiral Robin Dhowan took over as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on Monday.

A Navigation and Direction Specialist, Vice Admiral Dhowan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Defence Services Staff College.

He has undergone various courses in India and abroad including the Sea Harrier Direction course at Yeovilton, UK and the Naval Command Course at Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA.

Vice Admiral Dhowan has held various important staff appointments at Naval Headquarters, which include Deputy Director Naval Operations, Joint Director Naval Plans and as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy and Plans), Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence.

He has also served as the Senior Instructor at DSSC Wellington.

Besides, he also had the privilege to command the Eastern Fleet as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, one of the two operational fleet of the Indian Navy and subsequently took over as Chief of Staff at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam. (ANI)

 

[sudhir007]

Navy to raise separate force to monitor coastal areas

fullstory

Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) In the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, a separate force would be raised to monitor coastal areas, a top Naval officer said here today.

"There will be a separate force, Sagar Prahari Bal, for the purpose of increasing vigil in coastal areas of the country, starting from Gujarat to West Bengal," Naval officer-in-charge (West Bengal) Commodore Chandra Sekhar Azad told a press conference.

The force will constitute 1,000 navy personnel, including 61 officers and 939 sailors and will have 95 Fast Interceptive Craft (FIC), Azad said, adding that the induction for the force will start from January next year.

When asked about the allocation for West Bengal, Azad said, the state would get 150 navy personnel, including four officers, and four FICs.

Azad said, "The new force will check every vessel above 300 tons

 

[gogbot]

Navy to raise separate force to monitor coastal areas

fullstory

Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) In the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, a separate force would be raised to monitor coastal areas, a top Naval officer said here today.

"There will be a separate force, Sagar Prahari Bal, for the purpose of increasing vigil in coastal areas of the country, starting from Gujarat to West Bengal," Naval officer-in-charge (West Bengal) Commodore Chandra Sekhar Azad told a press conference.

The force will constitute 1,000 navy personnel, including 61 officers and 939 sailors and will have 95 Fast Interceptive Craft (FIC), Azad said, adding that the induction for the force will start from January next year.

When asked about the allocation for West Bengal, Azad said, the state would get 150 navy personnel, including four officers, and four FICs.

Azad said, "The new force will check every vessel above 300 tons

Great now what do the coast guard do.

 

[RPK]

PIB Press Release

Delay in building Scorpene range submarines at MDL

As per contract signed with Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL), first Scorpene submarine is scheduled to be delivered in December 2012 and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017. On account of some teething problems, time taken in absorption of technology and delays in augmentation of industrial infrastructure and procurement of MDL purchased materials (MPM), slippage in the delivery schedule is expected. Delay in scheduled delivery of submarines is likely to have an impact on the envisaged submarine force levels. Loss on account of the delayed delivery is difficult to quantify at this stage.

 

[RPK]

Great now what do the coast guard do.

PIB Press Release

Coastal Security

Intelligence agencies keep sending the Government advisories on Coastal Security which are acted upon by Navy and Coast Guard expeditiously. In view of the sensitivity of coastal security of this region, an integrated approach has been put in place to strengthen the coastal security. The coastal surveillance and patrolling has been enhanced. Joint and operational exercises are taking place on regular basis between Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and others to check the effectiveness of the new systems. During the current year, a total of 14 Pakistani fishing boats with 109 Pakistani crew have been apprehended by Coast Guard whilst fishing in Indian waters for violation under MZI Act 1981. The apprehended fishing boats along with crew had been handed over to local police at designated port ‘Okha’.

Government has accorded top priority for beefing up coastal security. After careful review of the same, an integrated approach has been put in place. The intelligence-sharing mechanism has been streamlined through the creation of Joint Operation Centres and multi agency coordination mechanism. The increase of manpower, assets and other infrastructure required for strengthening the coastal security and meeting the security threats is an ongoing process.

The Government has approved setting up of twelve additional Coast Guard Stations in the country including two stations at Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Appropriate steps have been taken for strengthening coastal surveillance and security, including installation of radars.

 

[gubbi]

40 warships, new jets on Indian Navy's 'buy' list

2009-12-02 18:50:00

The Indian Navy will be acquiring 40 warships and new fighter jets indigenously and from abroad, Admiral Nirmal Verma said Wednesday.

Asserting that the navy's primary role remains the country's maritime interests, he said the focus had not shifted even after being appointed the nodal agency for coastal security following the Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people in November last year.

'Just because of (the revamped) coastal security, we have not steered away from our role. The task is going on as before and another task (of coordinating coastal security) has been added,' Verma told reporters here. 'It has not distracted us from our main task.'

He said there were presently 40 ships and submarines on order.

'Our preferred choice of inducting ships has been through the indigenous route,' he said. 'There are presently 34 ships and submarines on order from Indian shipyards.'

While the navy's main thrust was on indigenisation in building warships, Verma said there was a need to cut down the time taken in ship building.

'We want to build (ships) at a certain pace,' he said, adding that the current methodology adopted was more time-consuming than those followed by shipyards in other countries.

The navy is acquiring a number of platforms - frigates, destroyers, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, mini counter vessels, fast interceptors and tankers while finalising design for the landing platform dock on the lines of INS Jalashwa (USS Trenton).

Work on the indigenous aircraft carrier was going on with some 10,000 tonnes of steel already in Hull. It is expected to be ready for launch next year ahead of the induction scheduled in 2014.

While MiG-29 K will be on the deck of INS Vikramaditya, the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft is earmarked for the indigenous aircraft carrier.

The navy hopes to invite tenders for six Medium Range Maritime surveillance aircraft and is looking for helicopters for its ships.

 

[EjazR]

Navy fails simulation test, to plug holes- Hindustan Times

Loopholes were found in a security exercise carried out to check India’s preparedness in the event of a 26/11-type terror attack.

Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said on Wednesday that ‘assailants’ were able to slip past the security cordon during maritime exercises simulating the 26/1-type attacks.

Addressing his customary press conference ahead of Navy Day on December 4, Admiral Verma said the loopholes were being plugged.

India’s maritime stakeholders have carried out more than 10 joint exercises over the last one year. They also launched nine operations based on intelligence inputs.

As many as 15 organisations are involved in coastal security — ranging from Navy, Coast Guard, Ministry of Shipping, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, coastal police to Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries).

He said, “We have brought all the stakeholders together.” Navy was named as the sole authority responsible for maritime security to get rid of problems of coordination after 26/11.

But there has been no progress in setting up of the Maritime Security Advisory Board for coordination among the multiple agencies.

 

[Hulk]

Navy fails simulation test, to plug holes- Hindustan Times

Loopholes were found in a security exercise carried out to check India’s preparedness in the event of a 26/11-type terror attack.

Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said on Wednesday that ‘assailants’ were able to slip past the security cordon during maritime exercises simulating the 26/1-type attacks.

Addressing his customary press conference ahead of Navy Day on December 4, Admiral Verma said the loopholes were being plugged.

India’s maritime stakeholders have carried out more than 10 joint exercises over the last one year. They also launched nine operations based on intelligence inputs.

As many as 15 organisations are involved in coastal security — ranging from Navy, Coast Guard, Ministry of Shipping, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, coastal police to Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries).

He said, “We have brought all the stakeholders together.” Navy was named as the sole authority responsible for maritime security to get rid of problems of coordination after 26/11.

But there has been no progress in setting up of the Maritime Security Advisory Board for coordination among the multiple agencies.

Good to see we are carrying such exercise. I am seeing for the first time we are caring so much for security, hope this attitude continues.
MMS and Chidambaram are very important for India now.

 

[Tejas-MkII]

Indigenous nuclear submarine in two years: Navy chief

PTI 2 December 2009, 07:18pm ISTText Size:|Topics:Nuclear
Navy

NEW DELHI: India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, will be inducted into the Navy fleet in two years.



"INS Arihant will be inducted into the Navy in two years or so," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters here ahead of the Navy Day on December 4.

However, Verma refused speak about Russia leasing out its Akula-II 'Nerpa' nuclear-powered submarine to India for 10 years. "I have no response for that," he said to queries on when Nerpa would join the Indian Navy.

Arihant, the first submarine under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme, was launched for sea trials on July 26 this year at a naval yard in Visakhapatnam by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurcharan Kaur.


"It (Arihant) demonstrates a quantum leap in the shipbuilding capabilities of the country. It is a nuclear- powered submarine, which is indigenously designed and constructed," Verma said.

The endurance of the submarine was only limited by the endurance of the crew, food and provisions that it could carry, he said.

The submarine is now undergoing wide-ranging trials in harbour to prove that the various systems fitted on board perform as per their design. This would be followed by extensive sea trials before it is commissioned into the Navy



Indigenous nuclear submarine in two years: Navy chief - India - The Times of India

 

[sudhir007]

LiveFist - The Best of Indian Defence: Indian Navy's New Fleet Replenishment Vessel

The first of two Italian-built fleet replenishment vessels of a new class will be commissioned into the Indian Navy by July next year. The second vessel will follow in the latter half of 2011.

 

[sudhir007]

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2009/12/mig-29k-completes-its-last-firing-and.html

 

[brahmastra]

Navy wants 40 warships and aircraft, shipyards cant keep up


03 Dec 2009 8ak: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Verma has said on Wednesday that the Navy will be acquiring 40 warships and new fighter jets from abroad. Asserting that the navy's primary role remains the country's maritime interests, he said the focus had not shifted even after being appointed the nodal agency for coastal security following the Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people in November last year.

Addressing the annual Navy Day news conference on Dec 2, Adm. Nirmal Verma said, "We need to revisit the building strategies of the [defence] shipyards. There is a need to do much more. Construction schedule is where our shipyards lag. The reason for delays is the basic method of construction."

Just because of (the revamped) coastal security, we have not steered away from our role. The task is going on as before and another task (of coordinating coastal security) has been added,' Verma told reporters here. 'It has not distracted us from our main task.' The Navy plans to order weaponry and equipment worth more than $15 billion in the next 10 to 12 years. Under a long-term plan approved last year, the Navy will procure 60 new warships, submarines, one additional aircraft carrier, maritime surveillance aircraft, C4ISR equipment, a dedicated satellite, and other sea-based assets.

India's first indigenous aircraft carrier will be launched next year and commissioned in 2014, if all goes per plan. Under the modernization plan, the Indian nay is also planning to establish a forward post in Orissa (here) and is also rumoured to be considering buying a U.K. carrier, being manufactured by BAE systems (here). The Indian navy has also entered a deal the Barack-8 missile system from Israel in a US$1.1 billion deal.

 

[brahmastra]

RAJYA SABHA

As per contract signed with Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL), first Scorpene submarine is scheduled to be delivered in December 2012 and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017. On account of some teething problems, time taken in absorption of technology and delays in augmentation of industrial infrastructure and procurement of MDL purchased materials (MPM), slippage in the delivery schedule is expected. Delay in scheduled delivery of submarines is likely to have an impact on the envisaged submarine force levels. Loss on account of the delayed delivery is difficult to quantify at this stage.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Prabhat Jha and Shri Prakash Javadekar in Rajya Sabha today.

 

[sudhir007]

Training of first batch of Naval force from Jan 11

Over 1,000 officers and sailors of the Navy, forming part of the Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB), a new naval force formed to protect naval bases and coastline, will commence their three week training at INS Dronacharya here from January 11 next, a Naval officer said today.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had recently approved the formation of the SPB for Force Protection Duties, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral K N Sushil told reporters on board INS Krishna here.

The Navy personnel, who will undergo the training are below 25 years of age, he said.

The force will be equipped with Fast Interceptor Crafts, small arms and will also be suitably trained for a wide spectrum of coastal security tasks, Sushil said.

In the first week, small arms training will be imparted, after which there will be a capsule on navigation, to be followed by a consolidated training on fast interceptor crafts. A week-long training will also be held on INS Shivaji where the entire crew will be ‘cross trained’.

As the nodal agency for coastal security in Kerala, the Southern Naval Command in collaboration with other security agencies, was determined to provide comprehensive security for the state, he said.

A major exercise on coastal security was conducted in October involving various agencies including police, customs and coastguard and a similar exercise was being planned for Lakshadweep Islands in the near future, he said.

Much needs to done in terms of security of minor ports, monitoring of unmanned landing points and a fool proof identification for all the sea going craft and their crew. the Vice-Admiral said.

Post 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the government had also asked the Indian navy to conduct marine orientation training for CISF personnel and three batches of 253 CISF men have undergone training. About 500 CISF personnel are expected to be trained every year from 2010, he said.

On the recent incident of a French yacht making unauthorised entry into Indian waters, he said the naval personnel had gone on board to check if they were involved in any clandestine activities, but they found nothing suspicious and the yacht was allowed to leave.

About the delay in the completion of infrastructure facilities at Ezhimala academy, he said most of the training infrastructure was complete while work on some more facilities like hospitals are yet to be over. The navy has been assured that by the middle of next year it would be completed,he said.

Twenty warships from nine countries have called at Kochi port since December last year for goodwill and operational reasons. A significant increase in foreign ships calling at Kochi is due to large deployment of many navies in the piracy infested Gulf of Aden region.

The Kochi bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal will commence operations from December 6, he said.

Training of first batch of Naval force from Jan 11 IDRW.ORG

 

[sudhir007]

Warship-building process too slow, says Indian Navy chief

With growing strategic needs to protect the coastline, fuel supply lines from the Gulf and to combat piracy, the Indian Naval Chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma, today sought a change to warship-building methods and strategies of the country. Terming the pace of construction as too slow, the Admiral, addressing the annual press conference on the eve of Navy Day, said there was need to do much more.
“The construction schedule is where our shipyards lag”, Admiral Verma said, even as he separately said the Navy was looking to have another construction line for conventional diesel-powered submarines. This would be in addition to the existing one at Mazagon Docks, Mumbai, where the Indo-French joint project for the Scorpenes was on.
On the nuclear submarine, he said the INS Airhant, inaugurated on July 26 this year, would be inducted in the Navy within two years and it would be equipped with ballistic missiles. He refused to set a date on when India would acquire the Nerpa, a Russian Akula-class N-powered submarine.
On building additional N-powered submarines, he hoped that the government would not let the huge investments in nuclear submarine building wither away after the submarines were commissioned.Admiral Verma, who took over from Admiral Sureesh Mehta a couple of months ago, was candid as he made out the case for speeding up warship building in the country. The Navy had currently given orders for 34 ships in three different shipyards of the country, but the rate of delivery was only one ship per year, he said, adding that the Navy would be forced to go in for imports.
Over the next decade, the Navy’s fleet strength will be 40 ships (34 from Indian shipyards and six from abroad) and 60 aircraft and an equal number of helicopters. The new orders will take the number of warships to 160 and aircraft to about 290. It currently has 130 ships and another 190 aircraft and helicopters in service.

In the next year alone, the Navy will get delivery of two frigates, six fast-attack crafts, two survey vessels and a fleet tanker.The Admiral said he was in favour of having a larger private participation in warship building. Larsen and Toubro has set up the country’s largest shipyard in Tamil Nadu and had announced some two months ago that it was ready to take orders of the Navy.He allayed fears that the post-26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Navy had changed its focus. It remained focussed on its primary task of the country’s security on the high seas.

Warship-building process too slow, says Indian Navy chief IDRW.ORG