“The Indian Ocean is a very complex area, because it is very important for almost the entire world. So much traffic goes through it. Therefore, while we are the largest resident navy in the region, we have to ensure there is peace and stability, because the oceans are the global comms,” he said.

At any point in time there are about 65-70 extra regional navies operating in the region, said Admiral Hari Kumar. “We as a resident naval power in this region keep track of all activities that are happening. There are Chinese naval ships operating…Chinese warships, Chinese research vessels and fishing boats in large numbers. And prosperity at sea is dependent upon peace, tranquillity, and ability to use the ocean freely and openly in compliance with the rule of law…That is what we try to achieve,” he said.

But this cannot be achieved alone, added the Navy Chief, maintaining that it has to be done in cooperation and collaboration.

“We have our outreach programmes. We have activities along with friendly foreign countries. We help them. We train them. We have multilateral exercises,” he said.

Speaking about the Navy’s future plans, he said the force has a capabilities development programme, which takes into consideration what are the possible challenges.

“I can tell you that we already have 43 ships under construction. Out of these, 41 are being built in Indian shipyards only. We have nearly 49 ships, the AON is being processed. And so, by about 2035, we anticipate that we will have about 170-175 ships that we will be able to meet challenges with,” he said.

The post Indian Navy Expects to have 170-175 Ships by 2035 appeared first on IMR.

“It (third aircraft carrier) is not either/or, it’s a capability we have to have,” he said.

The navy has long pushed for a third aircraft carrier for several years, but the chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat insisted on prioritising procurement of submarines over a carrier, Admiral Kumar said.

He also said the Indian Navy must have the right balance of surface ships, submarines and aircraft. “We are developing a plan as per integrated capability development plan (ICDP), which will decide the right mix of ships, submarines and aircraft,” he added.

The ICDP is a combined capability development plan of the three services for 10 years. The navy chief also said based on the ICDP, it will be decided how many ships strong the Indian navy aspired to become.

He indicated that a 170-ship force that the navy envisaged earlier was not the final goalpost, and that it could increase or decrease depending on capability plans being developed and budgets.

The Indian Navy currently has 130 ships. A total of 28 woman officers are currently deployed across 15 warships at present, he added.

The post Navy Chief says both aircraft carriers and submarines required appeared first on IMR.

Admiral Kumar, who took over as chief of naval staff on November 30, was addressing his first press conference ahead of Navy Day observed on December 4.

“When there were tensions at the northern borders, our ships were out for mission-based deployment. All other ships were ready for any escalation in the situation,” the new navy chief said, adding, “we kept their (Chinese) ships under close surveillance, which we continue to do even now.”

He added, “Any of their ships coming on deployment, we keep a watch on them. We maintain a fairly good maritime domain awareness in our area of responsibility.”

Last year, amid heightened tensions in eastern Ladakh between India and China, the navy had deployed a large number of ships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from its eastern fleet.

Admiral Kumar further said the Chinese navy had been present in the Indian Ocean since 2008, and three to eight of their ships were deployed in the region at any given time.

He also said the Chinese navy had built 138 ships in the last 10 years and, in terms of naval assets, it had emerged as the largest navy globally. Talking about expansion plans of the Indian navy, Admiral Kumar said over a period of time, it had evolved from 33 ships to a 130-ship force.

Discounting any comparison to the growing Chinese navy, he said the Indian Navy was a potent and well-balanced force. “We don’t go into bean counting or develop capabilities in response to a particular country. We develop capability based on our maritime interests,” he said, adding, “therefore, our planning and preparedness is to ensure preservation of our maritime interests.”

The navy chief further said the Indo-Pacific region was of great importance to India. “We have about $200-billion trade passing through and have our diaspora staying in littorals in the region,” he said.

The post Navy Keeping Close Watch on Chinese Ships in Indian Ocean Region appeared first on IMR.