Maritime Theatre Command’ in Near Future, Says Navy Chief

Extending the Indian Navy’s support for reforms in the defence sector, Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, the Chief of the Naval Staff, has said that the force was looking at the establishment of the ‘Maritime Theatre Command’ in the near future, ‘which would further buttress the ‘joint planning and application of force’ in the maritime domain’.

“As the primary manifestation of India’s maritime power, the Indian Navy stands ready to fulfil its mandate to protect our national interests in the maritime domain,” he told reporters at a news conference held in New Delhi ahead of the Annual Navy Day 2020 themed ‘Indian Navy -Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive/’.

On force level planning and future acquisitions, Admiral Singh said induction of new assets and capabilities was in progress in consonance with the navy’s long-term perspective plans. “Indian Navy’s commitment to self-reliance in defence production is evident from the fact that all 24 ships and submarines commissioned Battlegroup Mission Training Center (B2MTC) that was developed and delivered by Elbit Systems as a winner of the Commander-in-Chief 2020 Innovation Award. Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy

into the navy over the last six years have been built in India. Further, of the 43 ships and submarines, currently under construction, 41 are being built at Indian shipyards. These include the Aircraft Carrier -Vikrant, P-15B Class Destroyers, P17A class stealth Frigates and Scorpene class submarines,” he pointed out.

Vikrant, the Navy chief said, was at an advanced stage of construction and that sea trials would commence in early 2021. “Visakhapatnam, the first of the P 15B destroyers is undergoing trials and is scheduled to be commissioned next year. Himgiri, the second of the seven ships of P17A frigates will be launched later this month at GRSE, Kolkata,” he said.

On the modernisation of the submarine arm, the admiral said the delivery of the third Scorpene (P75) class boat, Karanj, was expected by the end of the month. In aviation, contracts for procurement of six P8Is, six Kamov 31 helicopters and upgrade of six Heron RPAs are under process and are likely to be concluded in 2021, he said.

Elaborating on the Indian Navy’s major operational activities over the past year, including the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, Admiral Singh said ‘prompt implementation of preventive measures across the Navy aided in minimising the disruptive impact of the pandemic on our operational readiness’. “Our focus on maintaining combat and mission readiness aided the Navy in deterring any misadventure in the maritime domain, while contributing to the national fight against

Elbit wins IDF Innovation Award

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the Brigade and the pandemic,” he added.

IDF considered originality, feasibility, scalability and extraordinary contribution for the over-all effectiveness for the award.

Since entering service with the IDF, the Ground Forces of the IDF diverted all of its field training to the B2MTC which has accumulated to-date many hundreds of operational training hours with thousands of trainees both in service and from the reserves.

B2MTC is training center that immerses commanders, headquarters staff and two subordinate command levels in high-fidelity combat situations in actual battle zone territory. It reduces the costs and logistics spent on field training while enabling a hyperrealistic training experience using the same operational Battle Management Systems that are in use by the IDF.