• Navy Chief unveils operational goals & strategic roadmap

By Cmde Ranjit B Rai (Retd.)

New Delhi. 04 December 2024. On the 4th of December this year, the Navy celebrates its 53rd Navy Day with a unique Operational Demonstration (Op-Demo) by warships firing weapons during Navy Week off Puri’s Blue Flag Beach in Orissa. President Draupadi Murmu, India’s 15th President, who hails from Orissa, will be the Chief Guest, hosted by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

The holy city of Puri in Orissa is just 50 km from the Indian Navy’s scenic Sailor’s Training Establishment INS Chilka on the lake, and Puri is home to the Jagannath Temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of God Vishnu in Hinduism. The chosen venue is also part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy for celebrating Armed Forces’ Days outside the capital, which pays dividends to familiarise the public with each Armed Forces’ role. Selecting a port on the East Coast this year adds to India’s Act East Policy

Run deep, run silent, and this writer adds, run efficiently has been the Indian Navy’s guiding philosophy since its performance in the fourteen-day 1971 war to support the other two services to liberate the East Pakistanis with Mukhti Bahini help from repression by West Pakistan and give birth to Bangla Desh. The Navy’s action in that victorious war began on 4th December with three Osa Missile Boats sinking three Pakistani ships in Op Trident and INS Vikrant’s Sea Hawks and Alizes attacking airfields in East Pakistan with the Indian Air Force. Hence, 4th December is celebrated as India’s Navy Day.

A few days before Navy Day, the CNS customarily briefs the nation through the media in New Delhi on the Navy’s outlook, acquisitions and plans flanked by his four Principal Staff Officers (VCNS DCNS COP and COM). The spotlight invariably shines on the Navy, and the Navy hosts lunch and the media mingles with senior officers. This year, CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi began his briefing by briefly recalling the Navy’s action in the 1971 war, which set the scene for what was to follow, and spoke of the Op-Demo, which would highlight the Navy’s capabilities and its dedication to protecting India’s maritime interests. He also said that the Indian Navy was keeping a close watch on extra-regional forces in the Indian Ocean Region, including Chinese naval units and “we know who is doing what and where”, and he mentioned that several Pakistani warships and submarines were being built with Chinese support in China and in Karachi, to the determent of Pakistan’s weak economy.

CNS UNFOLDS MULTI-SHIP COMMISSIONING AND NAVY’S EXPANSION PLANS

It is known that the last of six Scorpene submarines Vagsheer, the first of the 6,500-ton Type 17A frigate Nilgiri, the successor of the 2400-ton INS Nilgiri commissioned by Mrs Indira Gandhi in June 1972, which served till 1996, and the last of four 7,000-ton Type 15B Destroyers to be christened INS Surat are on final sea trials off Mumbai and will be commissioned soon. All three platforms are from the Mazagaon Docks and Shipyard Ltd (MDSL) stable, and all large Indian Navy warships are fitted with the 750 km Brahmos and 60km Barak Anti-Missile missiles and M/F Star radars and latest EW equipment—the ships which are propelled by GE LM-2500 gas turbines from Hindustan Aircraft Ltd (HAL) can operate the newly acquired MH60R helicopters with missiles and torpedoes and sonars.

CNS mentioned that the Navy will have ninety-six more platforms in the next ten years, and the Navy chief also said that 62 ships and a submarine are currently on order and under construction within the country in defence PSUs, PSUs and private yards as part of efforts to boost India’s naval power. He also disclosed two ships are being constructed in Russia. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is due to visit the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad in Russia’s Baltic enclave shortly, where the two Krivacks of the Grigorovich-class, Tushil (ex-Admiral Butakov) and Tamala (Ex Admiral Istomin) which were incomplete are under construction.  Officials have said the defence minister will commission a stealth frigate (Tushil) in Kaliningrad, and TASS reported that Tushil is on final sea trials. These two ships are the same as the Talwar class from Russia and have India-specific communication equipment and weapons systems. The second warship is expected to be commissioned in early 2025 at Yantar. Two similar Krivacks are being built at the Goa Shipyard Ltd. RM’s three-day visit will include talks with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov.

CNS also stated India is set to seal the proposed procurement of 26 naval variants of Rafale-M jets soon. Four will be twin seaters with many commonalities with the IAF’s 36 Rafales and could share support facilities. CNS also stated that the deal for six Scorpenes will be signed soon and mentioned the Rs 4,0000 cr two Submarine Submerged Nuclear (SSNs) approval, which the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared. Usually, the Navy does not comment on actions by India’s SSBNs. Still, CNS confirmed what media had reported that the second SSBN INS Arighat had successfully fired a K-4 (Kalam-4) 3,500 km missile, and said the operational analysis is being carried out. CNS also stated that the Acceptance of Necessity (AON), had been cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by the Defence Minister, which has cleared seven ships of the Type 17D and sixty helicopters to replace the Chetaks.

The Navy Chief also released the Vision Document 2047. It is clear the Government has realised that the Navy has to be strengthened to play its part in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for India’s security and increasing trade and contribute to the Prime Minister’s policy of Security and Growth for all (SAGAR) and be alert to Pakistan’s maritime ambitions and for Humanitarian relief.

There is a need for a third aircraft carrier or a helicopter cum carrier as the Indian Navy is the resident member of the QUAD. It will need to show its weight in the Indo-Pacific but there is no doubt the Navy looks to a brighter future as it seems MOD has opened its purse strings. More ships mean more Commands for the future Naval officers, Sam No Varunah.

(Cmde Ranjit B Rai retd is a Naval Author and curates a Private Maritime Museum at C-443 Defence Colony basement in New Delhi, and his forthcoming book—The Indian Navy@2025 ….A Pictorial Journey, is due for release around mid-December. Cover Attached)