News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Navy

  • Indian Navy choses the local to boost its operational capability

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy has gone for local to boost the maritime operational capacity of the country. There have been orders placed with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing helicopters.

    Shripad Naik, Minister of State (MoS), Defence said on Wednesday, “Indian Navy has placed orders for Aircraft 12 Dorniers, 16 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH MK III), 8 Chetak helicopters by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).”

    MoS Defence was replying in Lok Sabha to a question asked by Ravindra Kushwaha, Member of Parliament from Salempur in Uttar Pradesh.

    The Minister admitted of delays into the delivery process and also informed about delays in delivery of the Submarines being constructed in Mazgaon Dockyard Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

    “Six Scorpene class submarines are being built by Mazagon Dock and Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under Project-75.” Minister said and added, there are some delays in the projects.

    Minister said the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted the delivery schedule of the submarines.

    The aircraft deliveries have been delayed due to the supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic and the delays in Submarine delivery have been caused due to the various defects observed during the trials of the submarines, requirement of certain modifications and delays in the supply of items required for construction by the collaborator / ToT provider – Naval Group, France, said Shripad Naik.

    COVID-19 added further to the delays in the submarine delivery but did not give details. “In the interest of national security the details cannot be divulged said Naik, “However, the existing submarine fleet is being maintained combat worthy through life extensions and modernization/ upgradation.” Indian Navy has been facing issues of obsolescence in its underwater combat capabilities however the Projects 75 and 75 (India) will plug this gap.

    Due to the indigenization effort of the Navy, 40 of the total 51 ships and submarines on order and to be part of the Navy are being constructed in the Indian shipyards.

    Apart from the Scorpene submarines (Project 75), Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), Vishakhapatnam Class Stealth Destroyers (Project 15B), Kamorta class anti-submarine corvettes (Project 28), Nilgiri class Frigates (Project 17A). Six more advanced submarines under the Project 75 (India) are slated to be constructed in Indian.

    The first indigenous ship INS Nilgiri was the Leander Class-class Frigates were constructed at the Mazagaon Dockyard Limited (MDL), Mumbai. Indian Navy started working on indigenous design of warships in early 1960s and by now have successfully completed 19 warship designs based on which more than 90 platforms have been constructed.

    Navy is working to plug the process to cap the delays in delivery of platforms being manufactured indigenously.

  • India’s import of arms decreases by 33 per cent amid Make-in-India push: Report

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Amid the government’s push to promote indigenous defence equipment, a report by Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI claimed that India’s import of arms decreased by 33 per cent between 2011-15 and 2016-20, and Russia was the most affected supplier.

    It said the drop in Indian arms imports seemed to have been the result of the country’s complex procurement processes combined with an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms.

    In the last few years, India has taken a series of measures to boost the domestic defence industry to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and hardware.

    The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in its report on global arms transfers published on Monday, said India’s imports of US arms also fell by 46 per cent.

    “International transfers of major arms stayed at the same level between 2011-15 and 2016-20. Substantial increases in transfers by three of the top five arms exporters — the USA, France and Germany — were largely offset by declining Russian and Chinese arms exports.”

    The US remains the largest arms exporter, increasing its global share of arms exports from 32 to 37 per cent between 2011-15 and 2016-20. Russia is the second-largest arms exporter.

    Exports by China decrease by 7.8%

    The report said exports by China decreased by 7.8% between 2011-15 and 2016-20.

    Chinese arms exports accounted for 5.2% of total arms exports in 2016-20. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria were the largest recipients of Chinese arms, it added.

  • Indian Navy adds to the depleted underwater combat capability, commissions INS Karanj

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy commissioned its third indigenously constructed stealth Scorpene-class Submarine INS Karanj on Wednesday at the Mazagaon Naval Dockyard Mumbai. 

    Six Scorpene-class submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.

    Indian Navy said, “INS Karanj would form part of the Western Naval Command’s Submarine fleet and would be another potent part of the Command’s arsenal.” Commodore Anil Jai Singh (Retd) Defence Analyst added, “With the focus now on Underwater Domain Awareness INS Karanj will be a valuable addition to the Navy’s underwater operational capability with its modern technology.”

    Commodore Singh a former submariner added that all six submarines lack Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) limit their operational capability to some extent. The next set of six submarines to be constructed under Project 75 (India) will be AIP Capable.

    The contract for Project 75 was signed in 2005. Two submarines of the ongoing project, Kalvari and Khanderi have been commissioned into the Indian Navy and Vela will be the fourth submarine to be commissioned in future. At the time this contract was signed Pakistan navy was operating submarine with AIP capability. AIP increases the stealth of submarines as it lets them stay underwater for long.

    In a significant development, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved the important milestone by successfully completing the trial of the land-based prototype on 8 March.

    It doesn’t have AIP, should have been completed by 2013. The time the contract was signed Pakistan had a submarine with AIP capability. Admiral VS Shekhawat (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, who was part of the commissioning crew of the old Karanj and later the Commanding officer during the 1971 Indo – Pak war, was the Chief Guest for the ceremony.

    Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff, and other senior officers from the Indian Navy and MoD were present during the ceremony.  The crew of the erstwhile ‘Karanj’, a Russian origin Foxtrot Class Submarine which was decommissioned in 2003 were also special invitees for the ceremony.

    Old INS Karanj, commissioned on 04 Sep 1969 at Riga in the erstwhile USSR, also took active part in the conflict under the Command of then Cdr VS Shekhawat. In recognition of the valiant action of her officers and crew, personnels were decorated, including the award of Vir Chakra to the then Commanding Officer Cdr VS Shekhawat. Interestingly, the commissioning Commanding Officer of the old INS Karanj Cdr MNR Samant, later on, became the first Chief of The Naval Staff of the newly formed Bangladesh Navy in the year 1971.

  • Indian Navy to commission third Scorpene-class submarine INS Karanj in Mumbai on March 10

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Indian Navy will be commissioning its third Scorpene-class submarine INS Karanj, in Mumbai on March 10.

    The submarine has been constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited under the ‘Make in India’ program.

    The Indian Navy has already inducted two submarines of the class named INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi from the same shipyard.

    According to the agreement with the Government of India, a total of 6 submarines are to be built in this shipyard. Of which, the trials of Vela and Wazir are underway, while the construction of the 6th submarine is going on.

    The sixth boat of the Scorpene or the Kalvari class had been named Vahsheer.

    India has plans of going ahead with the construction of another six larger and more capable submarines under Project-75 India.  

  • Kidnapping claim of Navy man who was `burnt alive’ seems to be fiction: Police

    Leading Seaman Surajkumar Mitilesh Dube (27), who was posted at a naval base at Coimbatore, was indebted heavily due to losses in the stock market and was depressed, police said.

  • DRDO successfully launches VL-SRSAM twice off Odisha coast

    Express News Service
    BALASORE: India on Monday conducted maiden flight test of Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from a defence facility off Odisha coast.

    Defence sources said two rounds of the indigenously developed missile were tested from a static vertical launcher positioned at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 1.30 pm and 4.45 pm. The missiles were fired against simulated targets.

    “The missile was test fired for demonstration of its vertical launch capability as part of maiden trial. The two weapon systems intercepted the simulated targets with pinpoint accuracy on both occasions. The missiles were tested for minimum and maximum range,” the sources said.

    The flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various Range instruments such as radar, electro-optical telemetry system deployed by ITR.

    Designed and developed by DRDO for Indian Navy, the VL-SRSAM is capable of neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea skimming targets.The VL-SRSAM with weapon control system (WCS) was deployed during the trials.

    DRDO Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy said the trials have proved the effectiveness of the weapon system. “A few more trials will be conducted before deployment on Indian Naval ships. Once deployed, the VL-SRSAM system will prove to be a force multiplier for the Navy,” he said.

    The next generation all-weather air defence missile system can provide point and area defence against various aerial targets like jets, fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles. The canister-based state of art weapon system can identify, track, engage and destroy the target with high kill probability. It has a strike range of about 40 km.

    The launches were monitored by senior scientists from various DRDO labs involved in the design and development of the system. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO on the successful trials.

    Prior to the test, around 8,000 people residing within two km radius of the ITR were evacuated as part of safety measures.

  • India can take on the role of net security provider in Indian Ocean Region: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India can take on the role of being the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region as geopolitically it is a reliable partner in the IOR.

    “We live in a challenging geo-political landscape where countries not only have to face the threat of military aggression, but natural calamities which include pandemics like COVID-19 which has wreaked havoc in the last one year,” Singh said.

    Therefore, when faced with threats across multiple dimensions, it is imperative for the nation to strengthen relations with countries with whom it shared converging views on key global issues, he said,addressing the inaugural session of Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave at Aero India here. “Geopolitically India is a reliable partner in the Indian Ocean Region and can take on the role of being the net security provider in the region,” he added.

    Noting that air power has and would continue to play a critical role in maintaining regional stability and peace in the region, Singh said freedom of manoeuvre provided by air and space capabilities enables the nation to influence in a sustainable and clearly escalable manner.

    He said that the Indian Air force is at the very forefront of offensive capabilities with its reach, speed and precision. “India’s unique disposition in the IOR, complimented by a potent airlift capability of IAF, enables it to contribute significantly in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions,” he said.

    Singh noted that India has been regularly conducting exercises to deepen HADR cooperation and coordination among its neighbours with a focus on sharing expertise and assisting building capabilities. He also said that the recent conflicts had shown the potency of emerging technologies and India is heavily focused on building these capabilities. “We are keen to cooperate with our defence partners in these niche technologies with focus on knowledge sharing and co-production,” he added.

    Officials said that the Chiefs of the Air Staff Conclave today had physical representation from 26 countries, while 14 were in attendance virtually. They said that the Conclave has been planned with three sessions to address the themes of disruptive technologies and innovations, air power in Indo-Pacific region and air power and airspace strategies.

    Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, in his keynote address, said “we have witnessed a paradigm change in the Geo-political landscape in recent years and globally, we are facing unprecedented levels of uncertainty, volatility and interconnected threats.

    ” While the world was grappling with complications and control of the pandemic, the worsening inter-state relations, rising mistrust and geopolitical tensions have only reinforced the importance of mature and balanced cooperation at international level, he said.

    “We need to strengthen our mutual understanding and existing security frameworks based on the principles of Cooperation, Collaboration and Coexistence,” he said, adding that for India, the security challenges are as varied as its geography and as unpredictable as the nation’s threats.

    Noting that the nature of warfare has changed significantly in the last few years, the air chief said advent of new technologies and cross linking of ‘Physical’, ‘Digital’ and ‘Cognitive’ domains has complicated the art of war fighting considerably.

    “Our understanding of national boundaries has shifted well beyond the classical definitions of airspaces, land borders and shorelines. An attack may originate without warning, several time zones away, and its effect may proliferate rapidly across several domains. Also, the exponential technological progress made in the last few years has made the realm of sub-con warfare more complex,’ Bhadauria said.

    He said that the low cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technology like drones with small state and non-state actors have made them more lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects.

    “We are closely observing these developments and are focusing on developing capabilities in unmanned, and optionally manned platforms, manned-unmanned teaming, and anti-drone technologies,” he added.

  • Republic Day 2021: Rafales to make debut in flypast as India to show military might, cultural heritage

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India will show its military might on Tuesday with Rafale fighter jets taking part in the Republic Day flypast for the the first time and the armed forces showcasing T-90 tanks, the Samvijay electronic warfare system, Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, among others, said the Defence ministry on Monday.

    Total 32 tableaus — 17 from states and union territories, six from the Defence ministry and nine from other Union ministries and paramilitary forces — depicting the nation’s rich cultural heritage, economic progress and defence prowess will roll down the Rajpath at the Republic Day parade, the ministry said in a statement.

    “School children will perform folk arts and crafts displaying skills and dexterity handed down from generations — Bajasal, one of the most beautiful folk dances of Kalahandi in Odisha, Fit India Movement and Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” the ministry noted.

    A 122-member proud contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces will also march on Rajpath on Tuesday, the ministry said.

    “The Bangladesh contingent will carry the legacy of legendary Muktijoddhas of Bangladesh, who fought against oppression and mass atrocities and liberated Bangladesh in 1971,” it added.

    India is currently celebrating the Swarnim Vijay Varsh – Golden Jubilee year – commemorating the country’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

    The Indian Army will showcase the main battle tank T-90 Bhishma, infantry combat vehicle BMP-II-Sarath, mobile autonomous launcher of the Brahmos missile system, multi-launcher rocket system Pinaka, electronic warfare system Samvijay among others during the parade on Tuesday, the Defence ministry noted.

    The Indian Navy’s tableau at the Republic Day parade this year will showcase models of Indian naval ship (INS) Vikrant and naval operations that were conducted during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

    The Indian Air Force (IAF) will showcase models of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas and indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile Dhruvastra on its tableaus during the parade, the ministry noted.

    They also showcased scaled-down models of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet and Rohini radar on the tableaus.

    A total of 38 IAF aircraft, include Rafale, and four planes of the Indian Army will participate in the flypast on Tuesday.

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will have two tableaus at this year’s parade, one showcasing light combat aircraft Tejas’ successful take off from aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya in 2020, and another displaying full complement of the anti-tank guided missile systems, the Defence ministry said.

    The Republic Day parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial.

    “He will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath. Thereafter, the PM and other dignitaries will head to the saluting dais at Rajpath to witness the parade,” the ministry noted.

    As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute, it said.

    The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute, the ministry added.

    Seventeen tableaux from various states and union territories, namely, Gujarat, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Tripura, West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi and Ladakh will be showcased during the parade, depicting the geographical and rich cultural diversity of the country, it said.

    It stated these tableaux will show the vision for Ladakh to be carbon neutral, the sun temple at Modhera in Mehsana District of Gujarat, tea-tribes of Assam, shore temple and other monuments of Pallava Dynasty in Tamil Nadu, Bhakti Movement and saints of Maharashtra, etc.

  • INS Viraat dismantling to take nine more months; 30% work over

    By PTI
    AHMEDABAD: Around 30 per cent dismantling work of India’s decommissioned aircraft carrier ‘Viraat’ has been completed and the entire vessel would be dismantled in nine months, a Gujarat-based ship breaker has said.

    Mukesh Patel, Chairman of the Shree Ram Group at Alang in Bhavnagar district which bought Viraat at an auction in July last year for Rs 38.54 crore, said the firm began the dismantling process in December.

    The world’s longest-serving warship was decommissioned by the Indian Navy four years ago.

    It is being dismantled with the help of around 300 trained workers at one of the plots owned by ship breaking firm, Patel said.

    “We started the dismantling process in December last year and hope to finish the task in the next eight to nine months. We are following the global norms on eco-friendly ship breaking,” he said.

    Viraat had reached the Alang ship breaking yard from Mumbai in September.

    The centaur-class aircraft carrier was in service with the Indian Navy for 29 years before being decommissioned in March 2017.

    There was a campaign on social media to save the warship and convert it into a maritime heritage museum but nothing came out of it.

    The Centre in July 2019 informed the Parliament that the decision to scrap Viraat was taken after due consultation with the Indian Navy.

    In a last-ditch effort, Mumbai-based Envitech Marine Consultants had approached Patel to acquire the ship for converting it into a museum, for which Patel had sought Rs 100 crore and an NOC from the Central government for the resale.

    “I was ready to sell the ship for converting it into a museum and even delayed the dismantling for about two months.

    But that company could not procure the NOC from the Centre, which is mandatory in such deals,” said Patel.

    At present, the ship is anchored around 300 metres off the shore and is being cut into pieces using gas cutters and heavy duty cranes.

    After a significant portion is cut, it will be pulled ashore next month for further dismantling, he said.

    “The ski-jump was cut first when dismantling process began.

    To maintain balance and keep the ship afloat, we then cut apart the back portion and removed some metal from the middle.

    Reduction in weight will help pulling it ashore,” he said.

    There is no clear estimate about how much metal would be salvaged from the ship, Patel said.

    “All the memorabilia and parts like the steering wheel were removed by the Navy before the ship was handed over to us.

    Though the engine was there, propellers andshaft were removed before we received the possession, which is a standard procedure,” he said.

    Viraat is the second aircraft carrier to be dismantled in India.

    In 2014, Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.

  • India to display key military assets on Republic Day; contingent of Bangladesh excited to march down Rajpath

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India will be displaying some of its key military assets, such as T-90 tanks and BrahMos missile system, during the 72nd Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath, with a marching-cum-band contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces all set to take part in the ceremonial parade for the first time.

    The leader of the 122-member contingent on Saturday thanked India for the gesture and said, the “enduring relationship” between the two countries is growing day by day.

    The Bangladeshi contingent, with members drawn from all the three wings of its armed forces, will be the first marching contingent to walk down the ceremonial boulevard on January 26.

    India’s military might and some of the state-of-the-art assets of the armed forces, including three T-90 tanks, BrahMos missile system, BMP-II, two Pinaka multiple launch rocket system, two bridge laying tanks, electronic warfare equipment Samvijay and one upgraded Schilka air defence weapon system, will be showcased during the parade on Rajpath, which will be held following COVID-19 safety guidelines.

    “This year, no new asset will be displayed, but upgraded versions of various key assets and equipment will be there,” Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, Maj Gen Alok Kacker, told reporters.

    He said 18 marching contingents – 16 marching and two animal-mounted – will take part in the parade from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme, along with bands, including 15 from the military.

    The 61 Cavalry, consisting of 43 horses, will be marching down the Rajpath as part of the mounted column.

    Due to COVID-19 safety norms, there will be no motorcycle display this time, a major attraction for the crowd at Republic Day celebrations on the Rajpath, and also the veterans marching contingent will also not be there, Kacker said.

    The contingents in the parade will stop at the National Stadium this year instead of following the regular route all the way to the Red Fort, primarily due to COVID-19 safety norms, Kacker added.

    Responding to queries from reporters, he said bands and contingents have arrived from various parts of the country and about 260 members had tested COVID-19 positive out of the 3,000-odd pool, and they were quarantined and their primary contacts traced and tested, until they tested negative twice.

    “Also, the fact that the contingent size has been reduced from regular 144 to 96, gives us an in-built reserve. But, we are all safe and fresh and raring to go on Rajpath on January 26,” Kacker said.

    He said COVID-19 safety norms have been followed from day one and contingents have moved from “bubble to bubble” to minimise all scope of infection.

    A full dress rehearsal of the parade was held on Saturday morning.

    Capt Preeti Choudhary from 140 AD Regt (SP) will be commanding the upgraded Schilka weapon system as part of the mechanised column on Rajpath, officials said.

    The newly inducted Rafale fighter aircraft will feature in India’s Republic Day parade on January 26 and culminate the flypast by carrying out the ‘Vertical Charlie’ formation.

    Col Md Mohtashim Chowdhury, the leader of the Bangladesh contingent said, “We feel very fortunate that India has given our country this opportunity. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh and also we are in the midst of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, we are very happy to be here.”

    The members of the contingent are drawn mostly from units raised during the 1971 war, and several other units which were raised before it, he said.

    This is the third time that a contingent from a foreign country will be taking part in the Republic Day celebrations here.

    The other two countries being France (2016) and the UAE (2017).

    According to information shared with the media, for the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29, a special composition ‘Swarnim Vijay’, to commemorate 50 years of India’s victory in the 1971 war, has been done, besides a few other tune compositions.

    Officials on Friday had said that bravery awardee children parade on jeep will also not be there at the 72nd Republic Day event, on account of social distancing.

    Also, there will be no chief guest at the event this year.

    “This year’s Republic Day is very different as it is happening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Like in Independence Day, all chairs in enclosures will be placed following social distancing norms. So, the crowd size has come down to 25,000 this time from around 1. 25 lakh last year or some of the previous years,” an official had said.

    At Saturday’s press conference, heads of some of the marching regiments, and Param Vir Chakra winners Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav and Subedar Sanjay Singh were also present, and interacted with reporters, sharing stories of valor from the Kargil war of 1999.

    Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Mishra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, will be the parade commander and Maj Gen Kacker will be the Second-in-Command, officials said.

    Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees will be part of the parade, they said.

    A total of 32 tableaux — 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from defence arm, including of IAF, Navy, Indian Naval Coast Guard, two from the DRDO and one from BRO (Border Roads Organisation) — will roll down Rajpath, officials said on Friday.