Raksha Anirveda
MARITIME EDGE The stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam was delivered to Indian Navy. (Credit: Ministry of Defence)
On The Cusp of Transformation
Vikrant in Cochin Channel
India’s maritime geography is India’s asset to meet the challenge posed by the PakistanChina nexus in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indian Navy has been given $7 billion for capital spending in 2022-23 and is tasked to be the net security provider in the IOR
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with underground pens and nuclear training, safety and support facilities set up by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). Ramboli will relieve the congestion at Visakhapatnam where two nuclear submarines INS Arihant (S2) and Arighat (S3) awaiting commissioning are based. Moreover, a larger S4 SSBN with K-4 long-range nuclear missiles was launched in November at the Ship Building Centre (SBC). Construction of the Navy’s nuclear boats is being executed in a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) by Larsen & Toubro Ltd and supervised by the Navy’s Project Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Russia provides consultancy for safety.
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The Indian Navy had always aspired to become a Builder’s Navy and towards that goal it received a boost in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed as Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Today, the Navy is on the cusp of a transformation to become a capability-driven service, not quantity driven. It has employed the Navy Schedule of Financial Powers—2021 issued by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which permits the Vice Chief of Naval Staff through the Navy’s Internal Financial Adviser (IFA) to order systems, each up to Rs 500 crores for operational needs and upgrades. On January 12, Simon Pryce, Ultra UK’s Chief Executive, announced the award of the Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Defence Suite (IADS) programme for the Navy’s frontline warships under construction worth approximately £60 million to Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd to supply the systems. Deliveries are due to commence in 2024 and to be completed by 2030, for ships under construction. The IADS includes low frequency towed sonars and provides a powerful multi-sensor ASW capability using an in-line active and passive towed
Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) as well as Torpedo Decoys. On June 3, 2021 the MOD had signed a contract with Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems Ltd, Mumbai, that supports P8i Telephonics APS-143C(V)3 radars, for procurement of 11 Airport Surveillance Radars with Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar for Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The procurement worth $85 million will be made under the ‘Buy & Make’ category. The installation of these radars will increase the air domain awareness around airfields and enhance safety and efficiency in flying operations of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. From 2022 the Navy will induct 24 MH60R Sikorsky multi-role helicopters with the Telephonics AN/APS-147 multi-mode (ISAR) radar, AGM-114 Hellfire and 120-km range Konsberg missiles, and light torpedoes, to replace the ageing Sea Kings on ships. In the New Year the Navy tested the Rafale-M (Marine) for use on INS Vikramaditya as well as the indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant undergoing trials at Navy’s shore-based test facility (SBTF) at Goa, which has a 14 degree ramp for take offs, and arrestor wires for Short Take off and Arrested Recovery (STOBAR). The F-18s will be tested later for a final decision.
Tasks and Challenges
The realisation has come that India’s maritime geography is India’s asset to meet the challenge posed by the Pakistan-China nexus in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indian Navy has been given Rs 47,590.99 crore ($7 billion) for capital spending in 2022-23 and is tasked to be the net security provider in the IOR, described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the acronym SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), well aware that China’s 360-ship PLA
