Navy Strengthening Capabilities For Power Projection

NEW DELHI - July 1, 2015 - PRLog -- According to an item published in the latest issue of Indian Military Review Indian Navy has asked the government to allow a fleet of six nuclear-powered submarines and is also looking at nuclear power as an option for the next sea-borne aircraft carrier, which will be the follow-on to the INS Vikrant currently being built in Kochi.

Giving details, the June 2015 issue of Indian Military Review, published from New Delhi said the existing submarine plan was announced in 1999 and had spoken of having 24 conventional submarines by 2030. It is out of these 24 subs that the Navy wants six to be nuclear powered. At present, India operates 13 conventional vessels and a nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, leased from Russia, while the indigenous nuclear-powered INS Arihant is undergoing sea trials.


The Indian fleet is grossly inadequate to match China. An annual report to the US Congress claims, “PLA Navy (PLAN) has more than 60 submarines (and) places a high priority on modernisation of its submarine force.”

Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan has listed out a multi-pronged plan. First is to ensure timelines are met in the ongoing construction of the six scorpene subs with the first one planned for commissioning next year; second is according “top priority” to the second lot of six such vessels and third is to carry out a refit to extend the life of existing vessels.

On the next sea-borne aircraft carrier, Admiral Dhowan has said: “All options are open for the second indigenous aircraft carrier. Nothing has been ruled out. It could be nuclear powered or conventionally powered.”

The Navy was looking to having three sea-borne carriers in its fleet. The first indigenous carrier, INS Vikrant, will be inducted by 2018.

Sardar Patel Base Commissioned

Adding to a series of recent boosts for India's defence sector, Indian Navy's latest Naval establishment, INS Sardar Patel, was commissioned at Gujarat's Porbandar on 9 May. The base was commissioned by Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel.

Gujarat has a coastline of 1600 km interspersed with 43 ports. Of these, besides Kandla being a major port, 11 are intermediate and 31 are minor ports. The ports of Gujarat handle 300 million tons of cargo annually, which is 43% of the total maritime trade handled by the various ports of India.

According to the Navy, the commissioning of INS Sardar Patel would enable it to qualitatively augment its infrastructure and organisational effectiveness in Gujarat, which would improve coordination and synergy with other maritime agencies of the government.

This Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Indian Navy in Gujarat and the Headquarters of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Gujarat, Diu & Daman) would also enhance the logistic support being provided to the Indian Navy units deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea, including along the International Maritime Boundary Line with Pakistan.

The economic importance of this frontal maritime state, in the overall national security dynamics, is the core factor governing sustenance and operation of naval assets from the Forward Operating Naval base at Porbandar.

Fourth Project 28 Corvette Launched

The fourth anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette of Project-28, christened ‘Kavaratti’, was launched,in May, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata.

Kavaratti is packed with an array of state of art weapons and sensors, including a medium range gun (Bharat Heavy Electrical), torpedo tube launchers as well as rocket launchers (Larsen & Tubro), close-in weapon system (Gun and Shell Factory) and chaff system (Machine Tool Prototype Factory). With significant indigenous content, the ship is a true hallmark of self reliance attained by our country in warship design and ship.

Navy to Ramp up Karwar, Port Blair

The Indian Navy recently released the infrastructure development plan  for the next decade that includes massive plan laying down the way forward for the existing ports at Karwar located south of Goa and Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands, which stand close to the sensitive shipping lanes.

The Navy's plan will include additional infrastructure in all-forward operating bases, have new Naval air enclaves, keeping in mind the expansion in the Navy in terms of new ships, submarine, helicopters and fixed wing planes.

INS Vikrant Undocked

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, which was officially launched in August 2013 with the completion of phase I of construction, was recently re-launch in  at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, marking the successful completion of the most critical stage of phase II.

All major equipment has gone into the vessel, which has now acquired the shape of an aircraft carrier, with a finished hull. Barring a bit of ongoing work on the super structure, structural work is all over and the internal compartments have all been welded in.

Outfitting was steadily progressing at the moment, but a major part of it — including piping, electrical cabling, control system wiring — will be carried out after the vessel is launched.

Repaired Ka-31 AEW Helicopters Delivered

Russian Helicopters has delivered the first two repaired Ka-31 helicopters (of the six needing comprehensive repairs). In 2004, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise supplied nine Ka-31 helicopters to the Indian Navy. The remaining helicopters are due to be delivered in the near future.

A total of 14 Ka-31 helicopters were made for India. A special service centre in Goa was established for their maintenance.

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