News Analysis India

Tag: Navy

  • Navy Chief awards on-the-spot Unit Citation INS Nireekshak for daring salvage operation

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Admiral R Hari Kumar on Monday awarded ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation to the INS Nireekshak for carrying out the deepest salvage in the country’s waters. The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Adm R Hari Kumar visited INS Nireekshak at Kochi on Monday.

    The Indian Navy in a statement said, “CNS interacted with the diving team of the ship involved in the salvage operations at a depth of 219 meters in the Arabian Sea and commended the ship on the safe and successful conduct of the operations under most challenging circumstances.”

    The Navy Chief also awarded commendations to the crew involved in the salvage operation.  

    During his address to the ship’s crew, the CNS complimented the dedicated effort of the ship in conducting the deep diving operations. He exhorted the undaunted spirit of the ‘Men Behind the Machine’.

    Nireekshak had also recently completed a solemn dive off the Gujarat coast to pay homage by laying a wreath at 80 m depth, the resting site of erstwhile Khukri which sank during the 1971 war.

    INS Nireekshak is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel (DSSRV). Built by Mazagon Shipbuilders in 1985, the ship has been in service with the Navy since 1989 and was commissioned in the year 1995. She has been part of various diving operations and holds the record for the deepest dive carried out in the country to a depth of 257 m.

    NEW DELHI: Admiral R Hari Kumar on Monday awarded ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation to the INS Nireekshak for carrying out the deepest salvage in the country’s waters. The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Adm R Hari Kumar visited INS Nireekshak at Kochi on Monday.

    The Indian Navy in a statement said, “CNS interacted with the diving team of the ship involved in the salvage operations at a depth of 219 meters in the Arabian Sea and commended the ship on the safe and successful conduct of the operations under most challenging circumstances.”

    The Navy Chief also awarded commendations to the crew involved in the salvage operation.  

    During his address to the ship’s crew, the CNS complimented the dedicated effort of the ship in conducting the deep diving operations. He exhorted the undaunted spirit of the ‘Men Behind the Machine’.

    Nireekshak had also recently completed a solemn dive off the Gujarat coast to pay homage by laying a wreath at 80 m depth, the resting site of erstwhile Khukri which sank during the 1971 war.

    INS Nireekshak is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel (DSSRV). Built by Mazagon Shipbuilders in 1985, the ship has been in service with the Navy since 1989 and was commissioned in the year 1995. She has been part of various diving operations and holds the record for the deepest dive carried out in the country to a depth of 257 m.

  • Sri Lanka, India discuss common maritime challenges in Indian Ocean

    By PTI

    COLOMBO: The navies of India and Sri Lanka have discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and actions to overcome common maritime challenges faced by the navies and coast guard personnel of the two countries in the Indian Ocean.

    The 32nd international maritime boundary line (IMBL) meeting between Sri Lankan and Indian navies was held here on board SLNS Sayura off the coast of Kankesanthurai in the north on Friday, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release.

    The talks between the navies of the two countries were held to mainly discuss common maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

    The objective of the IMBL meeting is to strengthen relationships between the two neighbouring countries and discuss actions to be taken pertaining to the navies and Coast Guard personnel to overcome maritime challenges.

    “At this year’s meeting delegates from both sides discussed matters pertaining to the security of maritime borders of both countries and exchanged views on the progress of previous meetings,” the release said.

    The IMBL meeting is held to strengthen relationships and exchange views on actions to be taken by the navies and coast guard personnel of the two countries, the release added.

    The Indian High Commission here termed the discussion on matters of common concern as “fruitful.”

    “Fruitful discussions on matters of common concern and effective surveillance between India and Sri Lanka at the 32nd International Maritime Boundary Line Meeting held onboard SLNS Sayura yesterday,” it tweeted.

    The Sri Lankan delegation at the IMBL meeting was led by Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Aruna Tennakoon, while the Indian delegation was headed by Flag Officer Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area, Rear Admiral S Venkat Raman, the release said.

    Defence Adviser to the High Commission of India in Colombo, Captain Vikas Sood was also present at the meeting.

    READ | Fishermen in Rameswaram protest against regular attacks by Sri Lankan Navy

    COLOMBO: The navies of India and Sri Lanka have discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and actions to overcome common maritime challenges faced by the navies and coast guard personnel of the two countries in the Indian Ocean.

    The 32nd international maritime boundary line (IMBL) meeting between Sri Lankan and Indian navies was held here on board SLNS Sayura off the coast of Kankesanthurai in the north on Friday, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release.

    The talks between the navies of the two countries were held to mainly discuss common maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

    The objective of the IMBL meeting is to strengthen relationships between the two neighbouring countries and discuss actions to be taken pertaining to the navies and Coast Guard personnel to overcome maritime challenges.

    “At this year’s meeting delegates from both sides discussed matters pertaining to the security of maritime borders of both countries and exchanged views on the progress of previous meetings,” the release said.

    The IMBL meeting is held to strengthen relationships and exchange views on actions to be taken by the navies and coast guard personnel of the two countries, the release added.

    The Indian High Commission here termed the discussion on matters of common concern as “fruitful.”

    “Fruitful discussions on matters of common concern and effective surveillance between India and Sri Lanka at the 32nd International Maritime Boundary Line Meeting held onboard SLNS Sayura yesterday,” it tweeted.

    The Sri Lankan delegation at the IMBL meeting was led by Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Aruna Tennakoon, while the Indian delegation was headed by Flag Officer Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area, Rear Admiral S Venkat Raman, the release said.

    Defence Adviser to the High Commission of India in Colombo, Captain Vikas Sood was also present at the meeting.

    READ | Fishermen in Rameswaram protest against regular attacks by Sri Lankan Navy

  • Indian Navy proposes to develop 75 new indigenous technology and products

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In an ambitious move towards indigenisation the Indian Navy has proposed that at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products may be developed and inducted into the Navy in the coming year.

    This is planned to be a part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to celebrate the 75th year of independence, Indian Navy on Monday said, “A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) to work on a collaborative project named SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in Research & Development) through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC).”

    “The Indian Navy in conjunction with DIO shall be unveiling the problem statements for Indian Industries as part of iDEX (SPRINT) during the NIIO Seminar ‘Swavlamban 2022’ scheduled on 18-19 July in New Delhi,” the navy added.

    The purpose of the Seminar is to engage the Indian Industry and Academia towards achieving ‘Self-reliance in Defence Sector’.

    Defence Acquisition Policy (DAP 2020) envisages the creation of ‘Innovation and Indigenisation Organisations (IIOs)’ within the Headquarters of the Army, Air Force and Navy. Accordingly, the ‘Naval Innovation & Indigenisation Organisation’ (NIIO) was launched on 13 Aug 20 by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri.

    The NIIO is a three-tiered mechanism headed by the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. At the apex level, the Naval Technology Acceleration Council (NTAC) has been constituted to bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and accelerate the induction of disruptive combat technology into the Navy so as to enhance war fighting capabilities.

    NTAC meets every six months and gives apex-level directives. It consists of ex-officio members as well as nominated members of proven technical expertise and standing, both from within the Indian Navy and civilians/scientists/industry.

    The Naval Innovation & Indigenisation Organisation Working Group (NIIO WG) meets every two months and has been set up for seamless interactions across the Navy and with the MoD as envisaged in the DAP. The NIIO WG also functions as the Working level Committee of the NTAC. Meetings of the Working Group are co-chaired by the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Staff Requirements)/ Assistant Chief of Material (Modernisation) as the lead sponsors of combat capability development.

    A dedicated organisation focused on innovation named the TDAC has also been created within the NIIO. Interacting with the academia and the industry, in addition to channelling in-house innovations by naval personnel is a part of its charter of duties.

  • Govt rolls out ‘Agnipath’ scheme, unveils radical changes in military recruitment 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India unveiled a new scheme called “Agnipath” on Tuesday for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, largely on a short-term contractual basis, with an aim to cut the ballooning salary and pensions bill.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the new scheme at a media briefing, shortly after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it.

    “The Agnipath recruitment scheme is a transformative initiative that will provide a youthful profile to the armed forces,” Singh said.

    The revolutionary changes in the recruitment process will see the induction of the soldiers initially for a period of four years and some of them would be retained.

    “Under the Agnipath scheme, Indian youngsters will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as ‘Agniveer’,” the defence minister said.

    Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said the scheme will ensure a wider talent pool for recruitment in the armed forces.  The “Agnipath” scheme, earlier christened as “Tour of Duty”, was launched in the presence of the chiefs of the three services.

    The new scheme was announced after extensive deliberations on it over the last two years. The soldiers to be recruited under the scheme will be called “Agniveer”.

    Currently, the Army recruits young people under the short service commission for an initial tenure of 10 years, which is extendable up to 14 years.

    The scheme is aimed at slashing the salary and pension bills of the three services, which have been increasing rapidly.

    The defence budget of Rs 5,25,166 crore for 2022-23 included Rs 1,19,696 crore for defence pensions. The allocation for revenue expenditure was Rs 2,33,000 crore. The revenue expenditure includes the expenses on payment of salaries and maintenance of establishments.

  • Indian Navy ropes in new-age tech with 30 Artificial Intelligence projects in the works

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has launched major projects and initiatives to incorporate new-age advanced technology into the service at systems and processes levels. Along with the centres of excellence, the navy has begun exposing its personnel to academics and experts from outside, keeping the future in mind.

    Commander Vivek Madhwal, Spokesperson Indian Navy told on Thursday, “Navy is progressing around 30 AI projects and initiatives encompassing Autonomous Systems, Language Translation, Predictive Maintenance, Inventory Management, Text Mining, Perimeter Security, Maritime Domain Awareness and Decision Making.”

    Indian Navy is focused on the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in critical mission areas. “AI initiatives being steered by the Navy are envisaged to have both tactical and strategic level impact,” added Madhwal.

    The Indian Navy is organising seminars and workshops keeping the capacity building in mind. Navy’s premier technical training institute INS Valsura organised a workshop on the contemporary topic ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Al) for Indian Navy’ from 19 to 21 Jan 2022. This was conducted under the aegis of Southern Naval Command, prominent speakers from renowned IT Companies like Google, IBM, Infosys and TCS shared the industry perspective during the three-day event.

    Distinguished academicians from IIT Delhi, New York University, and Indian private universities also spoke about the latest trends and applications of Al. The keynote address was delivered by Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command who stressed the strategic importance of this niche technology and its application in the Indian Navy. The webinar conducted saw online participation by over 500 participants from across the country.

    Located at Jamnagar, INS Valsura has already been designated as the Center of Excellence (CoE) in the field of Big Data and a state of art lab on AI and Big Data Analysis (BDA) was set up in Jan 2020.

    Regarding its future endeavour, the Indian Navy in a statement said, “In addition, the Navy is currently in the process of creating a Center of Excellence (CoE) in the field of AI at INS Valsura, which has been instrumental in the progress of pilot projects pertaining to the adoption of AI and BDA in the domain of maintenance, HR and perception assessment, in collaboration with academia and industry.”

    Additionally, the Navy is deeply involved in unifying and reorganising its enterprise data, as data is the fuel for all AI engines, said Navy.

    At the organisational level, the Navy has formed an AI core group that meets twice a year for assessing all AI/ ML initiatives only to keep a tab on timelines. “Periodic reviews of AI projects are being held so as to ensure adherence to the promulgated timelines. The Navy also conducts training in AI/ ML across all levels of speciality for its officers and sailors.” The Navy told.

    This training is held both within the Navy’s own training schools as well as renowned IITs. Several personnel have undergone big and small AI linked courses over the last three years. These initiatives of the Indian Navy are in sync with the country’s vision of making “India the global leader in AI, ensuring responsible and transformational AI for All”.

  • Navy officer among 5 arrested by CBI for leaking confidential info about submarine project

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has arrested five persons including a commander-rank Navy officer for allegedly leaking confidential information related to an ongoing submarines project in return for illegal gratification, officials said Tuesday.

    The agency has initiated action in a secret operation last month in which two retired Navy personnel and as many private persons in addition to the Navy officer were taken into custody, they said.

    So far, the agency has conducted searches at 19 locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad among others from where important documents and digital evidence have been seized and are being examined, they said.

    It is alleged that the commander had discussed crucial details about the ongoing modernisation project of Kilo class submarines with the two retired officers for alleged illegal gratification, they said.

    The Anti Corruption Unit of the agency, which handles sensitive and high profile corruption cases, was tasked to unearth the leakage of information following which the operation was started, they said.

    The unit has questioned several other officers and ex-servicemen who were in regular touch with the arrested officer and retired personnel, they said.

    The CBI is conducting a forensic analysis of digital products used by the officer to understand if the information had fallen into the hands of people with vested interests, they said.

  • 26 still missing; Navy deploys diving teams to look for bodies

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: With no trace of 15 personnel from barge P305 and 11 from tugboat Varaprada six days after Cyclone Tauktae fury rendered the vessels adrift, the Navy on Saturday deployed specialised diving teams to boost the search and rescue operations (SAR) off Mumbai coast.

    “To augment the ongoing SAR ops for the missing crew of Barge P305 and Tug Varaprada, specialised diving teams onboard INS Makar with side-scan sonar and INS Tarasa sailed out early morning today from Mumbai,” a Navy spokesperson tweeted.

    The death toll on barge P305 that sank in the Arabian Sea on Monday reached 60 on Friday with the recovery of 11 more bodies even as the Navy and the Coast Guard continued the search for the 15 missing personnel from the barge and 11 from Varaprada.

    When contacted, an official said updates on overnight SAR ops are awaited.

    Hopes of finding more survivors of the Cyclone Tauktae fury have receded, an official said.

    Of the 261 personnel who were on barge P305, 186 have been recovered so far.

    Of the 13 persons on Varaprada, two have been rescued.

    While all the 440 persons on barges Gal Constructor and Support Station 3 (SS-3) and drillship Sagar Bhushan were brought ashore to safety, Naval and Coast Guard vessels and aircraft scoured the waters off the Mumbai coast as the search and rescue operations entered the sixth day on Saturday.

    Mumbai police have announced they will conduct a probe as to why the ill-fated barge remained in the turbulent area despite warnings about cyclone Tauktae, an official said.

    The police have also registered accidental death reports in connection with the death of the personnel on the barge.

  • Cyclone Tauktae: Navy ships rescue over 170 people from barge; aerial search underway

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: In an overnight operation, the Indian Naval Ships rescued 177 of the 410 persons onboard two barges, P305 and Gal Constructor, which were left adrift in Arabian Sea near Mumbai due to Cyclone Tauktae. 

    Another search and rescue operation has been launched to rescue the remaining 233 persons.

    Spokesperson of Indian Navy Commander Vivek Madhwal informed, “The Search and Rescue (SAR) operations continued throughout the night and a total of 177 persons from Barge P305 have been rescued till 6 am on Tuesday, 111 by INS Kochi and INS Kolkata, 17 by Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) Greatship Ahilya and 18 by OSV Ocean Energy whilst operating in extremely challenging sea conditions,” the official said.

    ALSO READ | Cyclone Tauktae weakens into severe storm as it crosses Gujarat, lies overland

    The oil fields are around 70 km southwest of Mumbai.

    Sixty persons on board the barge were rescued till 11 pm and the remaining overnight, the official said, adding a Navy helicopter brought three rescuees to INS Shikra this morning.

    INS Shikra, formerly known as INS Kunjali, is a naval air station located at Colaba in south Mumbai.

    State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) had on Monday said barge P305 with 261 personnel deployed for offshore drilling got de-anchored and began drifting because of the cyclonic storm Tauktae.

    P305 being an accommodation barge had no engine to power it, and it hit an oil rig in the vicinity and there was ingress of water, sources said.

    A barge is a long flat-bottomed boat either under its power or towed by another.

    An accommodation barge is of shallow draft (vessel whose keel is not far below the waterline) and is used to accommodate personnel on projects where shore accommodation is not available.

    Offshore accommodation barges are fully autonomous and used mainly in the oil and gas industries.

    The Navy on Tuesday morning also deployed the P-8I long-range, multimission maritime patrol aircraft to join the search and rescue operations, the official said.

    Another barge, the ‘Gal Constructor’ with 137 persons onboard has run aground about 48 nautical miles north of Colaba Point, he said.

    An Emergency Towing Vessel ‘Water Lily’, two support vessels and CGS Samrat are in the vicinity for rendering assistance and evacuation of crew, he added.

    “INS Talwar has proceeded to assist another oil rig Sagar Bhushan with 101 personnel on board and an accommodation barge SS-3 with 196 personnel on board, both of which are adrift and presently located about 50 NM South East of Pipavav Port,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

    ​ALSO WATCH:​  These ongoing rescue efforts were augmented on Tuesday morning by an Indian Naval P8I surveillance aircraft. Helicopters of Indian Navy will also be deployed for search and rescue operations based on the weather conditions. The search and rescue operations efforts will continue through the day with more naval assets ready to augment.

    (Inputs from PTI)

  • Military put on standby as Cyclone Tauktae likely to intensify within hours

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Indian Armed Forces on Saturday mobilised their men and machinery for rescue and relief as Cyclone Tauktae, expected to turn into a very severe cyclone, was set to hit the western coast.

    The Air Force Spokesperson said, “The IAF has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters on operation readiness in peninsular India in the wake of cyclone Tauktae which is expected to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall along the western coast of India in the next few days.”

    ALSO READ | Cyclone Tauktae: Heavy rain batters Kerala, red alert issued in nine districts

    One IL-76 aircraft has already taken 127 personnel and 11 tonnes of cargo from Bhatinda to Jamnagar. Also, a C-130 aircraft has flown 25 personnel and 12.3 tonnes cargo from Bhatinda to Rajkot. Additionally, two C-130 aircraft have airlifted 126 personnel and 14 tonnes cargo from Bhubaneswar to Jamnagar.

    “Indian Navy is on standby with ships, aircraft, helicopters and relief teams in coordination with the district administration,” the Navy spokesperson said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu braces for cyclone Tauktae, CM Stalin asks officials to monitor dam levels

    The Cyclone is expected to intensify, the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) updated through its Tweet. “Cyclone Tauktae in Arabian Sea likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and further intensify into very severe cyclone storm PM 15/ AM 16 May. Likely to move NNW and cross between Porbander and Naliya, India on 18 May.”

    The IFC-IOR is Indian collaborative initiative along with friendly-member nations which enhances maritime safety and security on the seas of this region.

    ALSO READ | 50 families evacuated in Mangaluru after Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast

    The IAF’s Covid relief operations teams in the west coast areas will also undertake cyclone relief operations, said the IAF Spokesperson.

  • UK Navy Ships To Protect Fishing Waters In Case Of No-deal

    In case of a no-deal Brexit, the UK will have four Royal Navy boats on standby in a bid to prevent European fishing vessels from operating in its waters, according to The Guardian. Britain is set to leave the EU single market at the end of the year with or without a trade agreement. Failure to reach a free trade deal with the EU means bilateral trade will depend on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in 2021. Now, as the transition period ends in the coming weeks, there are serious concerns that the two sides will not have a new agreement ready by then.

    According to reports, the 800-metre-long ships would patrol Britain’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which covers an area up to 200 miles from the coast, from January 1. The vessels, which are armed with machine guns, would be able to stop, search and impound trawlers fishing without permission in the EEZ. The navy officials reportedly said that the firearms would only be used if life was at risk. They assured that nobody is going to be firing warning shots against French fishermen. “Firearms are only used where there is a danger to life,” they said.

    The confirmations of the navy boats on standby comes as no-deal Brexit looks increasingly likely after negotiations this week were unable to bridge disagreements between the UK and the EU. Reiterating the European Union’s stance on fishing, Ursula Van der Leyen on Friday had said that fishing rights remain a stumbling block to a potential free trade agreement. She added that the EU understands that the UK aspires to control its waters. “The UK, on the other hand, must understand the legitimate expectations of EU fishing fleets built on decades and sometimes centuries of access,” she said.