sudhir007
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Chindits: Navy outlines huge acquisition plans, Chief reiterates indigenisation
Reiterating the need for fast acquisitions the Naval Chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma, today differentiated between the functioning of shipyards abroad and in India. Explaining that the shipyards abroad built huge blocks, which were completely kitted out and put together, while in India the entire exercise was undertaken in one place, which took a lot of time, the Chief today laid emphasis on indigenisation of military equipment, saying that it helped in long term maintainence, citing air surveillance radars, sonars and combat management systems as examples of indigenous success.
As on date the ships on order indigenously at various shipyards are four anti-submarine corvettes and six fast attack crafts at the Kolkata-based GRSE, one indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being manufactured by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), three destroyers, three stealth frigates and six submarines being built by the Mumbai-based Mazagaon Docks Limited, four offshore patrol vessels and one sail training ship being built by Goa Shipyard Limited and six survey vessels by the Alcock Ashdown Gujarat Limited.
While the Indian shipyards took a lot of time, the system followed by the shipyards abroad, that of producing ships in fully-kitted out blocks to be joined together, was an expensive proposition, said the Chief today ahead of the Navy Day, adding that Indian shipyards could do better. It required extra manpower and infrastructure to follow the system abroad.
As far as the delay in the first of the six Scorpene submarines, being built by Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL), was concerned, which was to be rolled out in December 2012 and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017, there were some teething problems, said Defence Minister A K Antony today in Parliament, that the delay was due to to time taken in absorption of technology and delays in augmentation of industrial infrastructure and procurement of MDL purchased materials (MPM), adding that the delay in scheduled delivery of submarines is likely to have an impact on the envisaged submarine force levels. Meanwhile the request for information for the second line of submarines has been completed.
Outlining the Navy's plan for the future the Chief emphasised on both consolidation and growth to move concurrently. While on order from abroad are three Krivak-Class frigates from Russia, the first of which has just entered trials, aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, renamed INS Vikramaditya, which will soon have its fourth and final price negotiations when the Russian team arrives in India, and there are two fleet tankers being built in Italy, required to replenish and sustain ships on cruise.
Refusing to comment on the lease of the Nerpa Class nuclear submarine from Russia, Admiral Verma however assured that the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant would be operational in a couple of years.
About the air arm of the Navy, the Chief clarified that the focus in the next financial year would be on helicopters. While the 16 MiG-29K fighter aircraft for INS Vikramaditya would be coming in soon, an additional order for 29 of them would be placed soon, and request for information for other naval fighter aircraft has been sent to countries who make these aircraft, to study options for future aircraft carriers like the second IAC, which would have a different design and look. The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would also be part of the air arm of the Navy. The tender for six meduim range maritime reconnaisance aircraft will be released this year and procurement of 16 multi role helicopters to replace the existing anti-submarine warfare Seaking helicopters, and 47 Advanced Light Helicopters to replace the Chetaks is on the horizon.
While the indigenously made stealth frigate, the first of the three Shivalik-class, made by MDL-Mumbai, has been undergoing trials in Mumbai and would be ready for induction soon. The last weapons and firing trials of the MiG-29K fighter aircraft concluded today and the first lot of two fighters and two trainers would be joining the Indian Navy within this month.
Reiterating the need for fast acquisitions the Naval Chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma, today differentiated between the functioning of shipyards abroad and in India. Explaining that the shipyards abroad built huge blocks, which were completely kitted out and put together, while in India the entire exercise was undertaken in one place, which took a lot of time, the Chief today laid emphasis on indigenisation of military equipment, saying that it helped in long term maintainence, citing air surveillance radars, sonars and combat management systems as examples of indigenous success.
As on date the ships on order indigenously at various shipyards are four anti-submarine corvettes and six fast attack crafts at the Kolkata-based GRSE, one indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being manufactured by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), three destroyers, three stealth frigates and six submarines being built by the Mumbai-based Mazagaon Docks Limited, four offshore patrol vessels and one sail training ship being built by Goa Shipyard Limited and six survey vessels by the Alcock Ashdown Gujarat Limited.
While the Indian shipyards took a lot of time, the system followed by the shipyards abroad, that of producing ships in fully-kitted out blocks to be joined together, was an expensive proposition, said the Chief today ahead of the Navy Day, adding that Indian shipyards could do better. It required extra manpower and infrastructure to follow the system abroad.
As far as the delay in the first of the six Scorpene submarines, being built by Mazagaon Docks Limited (MDL), was concerned, which was to be rolled out in December 2012 and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017, there were some teething problems, said Defence Minister A K Antony today in Parliament, that the delay was due to to time taken in absorption of technology and delays in augmentation of industrial infrastructure and procurement of MDL purchased materials (MPM), adding that the delay in scheduled delivery of submarines is likely to have an impact on the envisaged submarine force levels. Meanwhile the request for information for the second line of submarines has been completed.
Outlining the Navy's plan for the future the Chief emphasised on both consolidation and growth to move concurrently. While on order from abroad are three Krivak-Class frigates from Russia, the first of which has just entered trials, aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, renamed INS Vikramaditya, which will soon have its fourth and final price negotiations when the Russian team arrives in India, and there are two fleet tankers being built in Italy, required to replenish and sustain ships on cruise.
Refusing to comment on the lease of the Nerpa Class nuclear submarine from Russia, Admiral Verma however assured that the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant would be operational in a couple of years.
About the air arm of the Navy, the Chief clarified that the focus in the next financial year would be on helicopters. While the 16 MiG-29K fighter aircraft for INS Vikramaditya would be coming in soon, an additional order for 29 of them would be placed soon, and request for information for other naval fighter aircraft has been sent to countries who make these aircraft, to study options for future aircraft carriers like the second IAC, which would have a different design and look. The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would also be part of the air arm of the Navy. The tender for six meduim range maritime reconnaisance aircraft will be released this year and procurement of 16 multi role helicopters to replace the existing anti-submarine warfare Seaking helicopters, and 47 Advanced Light Helicopters to replace the Chetaks is on the horizon.
While the indigenously made stealth frigate, the first of the three Shivalik-class, made by MDL-Mumbai, has been undergoing trials in Mumbai and would be ready for induction soon. The last weapons and firing trials of the MiG-29K fighter aircraft concluded today and the first lot of two fighters and two trainers would be joining the Indian Navy within this month.
