News Analysis India

Tag: Indian Navy

  • Navy officer among five arrested by CBI for leaking confidential info about submarine project

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In a case of leak of sensitive information the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested serving and retired navy officers along with others. Indian Navy has also launched its internal inquiry.

    “Investigation related to alleged information leak of administrative and commercial nature being with some unauthorized personnel has come to light and is being investigated by appropriate government agency,” said the Indian Navy in a statement related to the arrest made by the CBI.

    As per the sources, “Officers were passing sensitive information related to Kilo Class Submarine to private persons.” The Navy said that the investigation by the agency with get its complete support and is in progress. “An internal inquiry by the Navy is also being progressed,” the statement said.

    As per the sources the case came into light a month back and the CBI conducted raids at 19 locations including those at Delhi, Noida, Hyderabad, and Delhi amongst the others. “Total 5 arrests have been made till now (one serving officer, two retired officers & two private persons) and all are in judicial custody as of now,” sources said.

    Currently, the officer was posted under Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command. To further probe the matter, the Indian Navy has set up a committee under a Vice Admiral to ascertain the fact about the espionage and how it could be stopped further.

    At present Indian Navy operates 12 conventional submarines and a nuclear powered submarine, which are strategically important underwater combat systems.

    Two days ago, an army jawan was arrested from Ferozpur Cantt in Punjab for allegedly leaking information. In a similar case in July, two other army jawans were arrested from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. In February 2018, a group captain of the Indian Air Force was also arrested for leaking classified information. 

  • Mount Trishul avalanche: Bodies of four out of six missing mountaineers found

    By Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Bodies of four mountaineers was recovered by the rescue team from Mt Trishul on Saturday and were identified as Lt Cdr Rajnikant Yadav, Lt Cdr Yogesh Tiwari, Lt Cdr Anant Kukreti, Hari Om MCPO II.

    Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted expressing anguish over the death of the mountaineers.

    “Deeply anguished by the tragic death of four Navy personnel who were part of the Indian Navy mountaineering expedition to Mt. Trishul. The nation has not only lost precious young lives but also courageous soldiers in this tragedy,” said Singh. 

    “My heart goes out to the bereaved families of Lt Cdr Rajnikant Yadav, Lt Cdr Yogesh Tiwari, Lt Cdr Anant Kukreti and Hari Om MCPO II. My thoughts are with their families  in this hour of tragedy. Praying for early locating of the remaining team members,” added the defence minister. 

    Deeply anguished by the tragic death of four Navy personnel who were part of the Indian Navy mountaineering expedition to Mt. Trishul. The nation has not only lost precious young lives but also courageous soldiers in this tragedy.
    — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 2, 2021
    The joint team is searching for two more missing mountaineers including one Navy personnel and a Sherpa.

    This group of mountaineers went missing on Friday morning after getting hit by an avalanche. 

    Later in the day, rumors started circulating that daughter of a Indian Navy officer Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 13-year-old girl mountaineering enthusiast, was also among the six missing mountaineers including personnel of the Indian Navy in Mount Trishul.

    However, no official was ready to either confirmed or deny this. 

    In February last year, she became the youngest person to scale the 6,962 meters high Mount Aconcagua in the Andes Mountains in South America. Her achievements have been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during ‘Mann ki Baat’. 

    Earlier on Friday, a joint rescue and search team of Indian Air Force, Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force and others including mountaineers from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering was dispatched to conduct the search operation. 

    Mount Trishul (7120 meters) is a group of three Himalayan peaks often likened to the trident of Lord Shiva was first scaled in 1907 by British mountaineer Tom George Longstaff.

    The peak is located in Bageshwar district but moutaineering expeditions are launched from Joshimath and Ghat areas of Chamoli district for the summit. 

  • Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh arrives in Oman on three-day visit 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh arrived in Oman on Sunday for a three-day visit aimed at further expansion of bilateral military ties with the influential Gulf nation.

    The Navy Chief will hold talks with the top military brass of the Gulf nation, including his Omani counterpart Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsen Al-Rahbi, during his visit from September 27-29, officials said.

    “The visit aims to consolidate bilateral defence relations with Oman, as also to explore new avenues for defence cooperation,” Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

    Apart from talks with Al-Rahbi, Singh is also scheduled to meet Chief of Staff Omani armed forces Vice Admiral Abdullah Khamis Abdullah Al Raisi, Commander of Royal Army of Oman Maj Gen Matar Bin Salim Bin Rashid Al Balushi, Commander of Royal Air Force Air Vice Marshal Khamis Bin Hammad Bin Sultan Al Ghafri.

    He would also be visiting key defence installations like Muaskar Al Murtafa (MAM) camp, Maritime Security Centre (MSC), Said Bin Sultan Naval Base, Al Musanna Air Base and National Defence College, Oman.

    The Indian Navy cooperates with the Royal Navy of Oman on many fronts that include operational interactions and training.

    Both navies have been participating in the biennial maritime exercise Naseem Al Bahr since 1993.

    This exercise was last conducted in 2020 off Goa and the next edition is scheduled in 2022.

    “This official visit of the Chief of Naval Staff to Oman highlights the growing cooperation between Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman,” Commander Madhwal said.

  • India should use its island territories as aircraft carrier

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  To ramp up the country’s security ring in the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of worrisome Chinese activities, India should utilise its island territories and use the peninsular mainland territory to its optimum, says a senior government official.

    Commenting on the third aircraft carrier for Indian Navy, the official said: “India should develop its island territory as an unsinkable aircraft carrier and also use the peninsular landmass jutting into the Indian Ocean to its advantage.”

    On the Chinese threat in the Indian Ocean with a possible deployment of its aircraft carrier in the future, the official said China has other areas which need focus. “The Chinese have other priorities such as Taiwan and Japan before they can come to Indian Ocean. And if they try to deploy a carrier, we are capable enough to handle them, he added.

    The Indian Navy has been pitching for the third aircraft carrier for long. The logic put across is that the country should have at least two active carriers at any given time. In such a case availability of three aircraft carriers will give options of deploying one each on the eastern and western seaboard and the third can be put to the maintenance and repair cycle. 

    China has been constructing aircraft carriers at a fast pace with a projected plan to operate 10 carriers by 2050. At present their third and most advanced aircraft carrier is being built with the first one, Liaoning, being commissioned in 2012 and second, Shandong, ready in 2019.

  • INS Tabar participates in maritime exercise with Algerian Navy

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy Ship (INS) Tabar took part in the Maiden Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Algerian Navy on August 29, said the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.

    INS Tabar participated in the exercise during its ongoing goodwill visit to Europe and Africa.

    Maiden #Naval Ex b/n #IndianNavy & #AlgerianNavy.#INSTabar on goodwill visit to Europe & Africa, took part in the landmark #MaritimePartnership Ex with frontline Algerian Naval Ship ANS Ezzadjer on 29 Aug 21 (1/2).#BridgesofFriendship@indiainalgeria @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/jdxcAxYPe6
    — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 31, 2021
    “The landmark exercise held off the Algerian coast and saw the participation of a frontline Algerian Naval Ship (ANS) ‘Ezzadjer’,” said the Ministry of Defence in a statement.

    As a part of this exercise, several activities including coordinated manoeuvring, communication procedures and steam past were undertaken between the Indian and Algerian warships.

    “The exercise enabled the two navies to understand the concept of operations followed by each other. It also enhanced interoperability and opened the possibility of increasing interaction and collaboration in the future,” the statement added. 

  • INS Trikand exercises with German frigate Bayern in Gulf of Aden

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy Ship (INS) Trikand exercised with German frigate Bayern in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, informed the Indian Navy in a statement on Friday.

    The exercise included ‘cross deck helo landings’, visit board search and seizure operations.

    “#IndianNavy ship #INSTrikand exercised with German frigate #Bayern in the Gulf of Aden on 26 Aug 21. Ex incl cross deck helo landings and Visit Board Search and Seizure #VBSS ops, ” tweeted the spokesperson of Indian Navy.

    #IndianNavy ship #INSTrikand exercised with German frigate #Bayern in the Gulf of Aden on 26 Aug 21. Ex incl cross deck helo landings and Visit Board Search & Seizure #VBSS ops (1/2).@deutschemarine@SpokespersonMoD#BridgesofFriendship #MaritimePartnership Ex#MaritimeSecurity pic.twitter.com/RlWKjVQb8g
    — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 27, 2021
    The exercise between INS Trikand, which is Mission Deployed in the region for Anti Piracy patrol and German Naval Frigate Bayern on her Indian Ocean leg of Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021 enhanced interoperability and facilitated the exchange of best practices between partner navies in maritime domain.

    “The Exercise between #Trikand, MissionDeployed in region for #AntiPiracy patrol and #Bayern on her #IndianOcean leg of #IndoPacificDeployment2021 enhanced #interoperability and facilitated exchange of best practices between partner navies in #maritime domain @FregatteBayern,” tweeted the spokesperson of Indian Navy.

    Meanwhile, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Vigraha, seventh in the series of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), will be commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Chennai on August 28, 2021.

    The official release by the defence ministry stated, “The ship will be based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and operate on the eastern seaboard under the Operational and Administrative Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).”

    The 98-meter OPV, with a complement of 11 officers and 110 sailors, has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro Ship Building Limited. It is fitted with advanced technology radars, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery capable of operating in tropical sea conditions.

    The vessel is armed with a 40/60 Bofors gun and fitted with two 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun with fire control system. The ship is also equipped with an integrated bridge system, integrated platform management system, automated power management system and high-power external fire-fighting system.

  • Quad navies to flex muscle at Malabar naval exercise from August 26 to 29

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  India, the US, Australia and Japan will carry out the next edition of the high-voltage Malabar naval exercise from August 26 to 29 off the coast of Guam amid mounting global concerns over China’s growing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Indian stealth frigate INS Shivalik and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kadmatt reached Guam on Saturday to take part in the exercise that will feature an array of complex drills.  “The Malabar-21 would witness high-tempo exercises among destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines, helicopters and long-range maritime patrol aircraft of the participating navies,” Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.  “Complex surface, sub-surface and air operations including live weapon firing drills, anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, and joint manoeuvres and tactical exercises will be conducted during the exercise.” 

    The Malabar exercise is taking place in the midst of growing convergence of interests among the Quad countries in the face of China’s increasing assertiveness. Though it is not part of the framework of cooperation under Quad, the exercise is seen as a reflection of increasing partnership among the four countries.

    China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the annual war game is an effort to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. India, the US, Australia, Japan and many other like-minded countries are working towards ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

  • Maiden navy drill between India and Saudi Arabia begins

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The navies of India and Saudi Arabia are holding their first-ever maritime exercise which will have its sea phase and the harbour phase.

    Indian Navy on Thursday said, “On the operational front, gearing up for the maiden bilateral exercise ‘AL–Mohed AL– Hindi’, the team of Indian Navy met with counterparts of the Royal Saudi Navy for a co-ordinating conference at King Abdulaziz Naval base in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.”

    “For a deeper understanding of each other’s operational practices, lectures by subject matter experts from both navies were also held,” added Indian Navy.

    The sea phase of the exercise started on Thursday with indigenous Indian Naval Ship INS Kochi, a stealth destroyer, participating.

    The Indian Navy’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was set rolling with the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF), Rear Adm Ajay Kochhar visiting the Fleet Cdr of Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet, Rear Adm Majid Al Qahtani on August 10. This was held at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, which is the Headquarters for Saudi Eastern Fleet. The  FOCWF also visited the King Fahd Naval Academy and met with the Commandant Rear Admiral Faisal Bin Fahd Al Ghufaily.

    Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visited INS Kochi at Al Jubail where he held a press conference on board along with the FOCWF and the Commanding Officer of the ship. 

  • IAC ‘Vikrant’ returns after successfully completing five-day maiden sea voyage

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ on Sunday successfully completed its maiden sea voyage for which she had sailed on Wednesday from Kochi.  

    “Trials progressed as planned and system parameters proved satisfactory. The carrier would continue to undergo series of sea trials to prove all equipment and systems prior to handing over the vessel to the Indian Navy,” an official statement by the Southern Naval Command said here.

    Trials were reviewed by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command on the last day, and have progressed as planned and system parameters have been proved satisfactory. 

    “The successful completion of maiden trials sorties, despite challenges faced due to Covid19 pandemic and COVID protocols in place, is testimony to the dedicated efforts of large number of stakeholders for over a decade. This is a major milestone activity and historical event. The carrier would undergo a series of Sea Trials to prove all equipment and systems prior to its delivery in 2022,” it said.

    Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘Vikrant’ designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND) was built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Shipping (MoS). 

    Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ successfully accomplished maiden sea voyage today.Trials progressed as planned.A true testimony by #IndianNavy towards #AtmanirbharBharat & #MakeinIndia initiative (1/n).@cslcochin @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia @shipmin_india pic.twitter.com/ytV8IpW7ui
    — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 8, 2021
    Madhu S Nair, the chairman and managing director of CSL said the maiden sea trial of the vessel was a complete success. “We have tested all the parameters set for the trial. Our focus is on completion of the rest of the sea trials and delivering the vessel to the Indian Navy next year,” Nair said, adding that the maiden sea trial will be a “mammoth confidence booster” to the entire team.

    The South Naval Command said IAC is a leading example of the nation’s quest for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ and the Indian Navy’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, with more than 76% indigenous content.  

    The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is 262 m long, 62 m at the widest part and a height of 59 m including the superstructure. There are 14 decks in all, including five in the superstructure. The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, having gender-sensitive accommodation spaces for women officers.  The ship with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability, has been designed to accommodate an assortment of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

    During the maiden sailing, the ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, Power Generation and Distribution (PGD) and auxiliary equipment were tested.

    Delivery of Vikrant is being targeted to coincide with celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.   

    With the delivery of IAC, India would join a select group of nations with the capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier and provides thrust to Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Delivery of IAC would also strengthen India’s position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and its quest for a blue water Navy.

  • IAC Vikrant successfully completes five-day maiden sea voyage

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant on Sunday successfully completed a five-day maiden sea voyage as the performance of the key systems of the 40,000-tonne warship was found to be satisfactory, officials said.

    The aircraft carrier, built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, set sail on Wednesday for the crucial sea trials ahead of its planned induction into the Indian Navy by August next year.

    “Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ successfully accomplished its maiden sea voyage today. Trials progressed as planned and system parameters proved satisfactory,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

    Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant’ successfully accomplished maiden sea voyage today.Trials progressed as planned.A true testimony by #IndianNavy towards #AtmanirbharBharat & #MakeinIndia initiative (1/n).@cslcochin @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia @shipmin_india pic.twitter.com/ytV8IpW7ui
    — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 8, 2021
    He said the ship’s performance, including of the hull, main propulsion, power generation and distribution (PGD) and auxiliary equipment were tested during the sea trials.

    “Trials, which were reviewed by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command on the last day, have progressed as planned and system parameters have been proved satisfactory,” Commander Madhwal said.

    The delivery of Vikrant is being targeted to coincide with celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, he said.

    The warship will operate MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters.

    It has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.

    The aircraft carrier set off on its maiden sea trials, 50 years after its namesake played a major role in the 1971 war.

    “The ship with a high degree of automation for machinery operation, ship navigation and survivability, has been designed to accommodate an assortment of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft,” the Navy spokesperson said.

    Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.

    The IAC is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and it has a height of 59 metres.

    Its construction began in 2009.

    Commander Madhwal said that the successful completion of the maiden trials, despite challenges faced due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a testimony to the dedicated efforts of a large number of stakeholders.

    “This is a major milestone activity and historical event.

    The carrier would undergo a series of sea trials prior to its delivery in 2022,” he said.

    Around 550 Indian firms including about 100 MSMEs are registered with the Cochin Shipyard Limited(CSL) and they provided various services for the construction of the IAC, India currently has only one aircraft carrier — INS Vikramaditya.

    The Indian Navy has been focusing on significantly bolstering its overall capabilities in view of China’s growing efforts to increase its military presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

    The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to the country’s strategic interests.