Andaman & Nicobar Defence Discussion

[IBRIS]

Andaman Command Key To Checkmate China Strategy

By Anantha Krishnan M.
PORT BLAIR, India

India's Tri-Service Command is gradually increasing its assets in order to monitor Chinese strategy in the region.

The command is situated in Andaman and Car Nicobar Islands with Port Blair as its headquarters. Officials from the Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC), confirmed that India is keeping a close watch on the activities of China and other countries in the region.

Though the officials stuck to a pre-planned brief on the sensitive China queries, it was clear the strategically located ANC keeps its antennas up round-the-clock to ensure that the region is well-guarded against external challenges.

"We are looking at developing assets along the islands in the next five years," ANC chief Adm. D.K. Joshi told AVIATION WEEK. "We are at handshaking distance from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. No other region has such a contiguous borderline."

Through its "String of Pearls" strategy, China has signaled its intentions in the Malacca Strait by boosting its efforts to build ports in Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Gwadar (Pakistan). "The Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean is pivotal for uninterrupted oil and power supplies from the Gulf to China. We are gearing up to modernize our installations and infrastructure in Andaman," Joshi said.

The "String of Pearls" term was coined in a 2003 Booz Allen consultancy report to the Pentagon elaborating China's designs to gain command in the Indian Ocean. The ANC, set-up in 2001, has had its share of teething problems. It marked the first time that such a unique experiment was undertaken by India. An official close to the situation notes that because the three services have their own distinct way of doing things it took some time for all pieces to fall in place.

ANC photo: Satish, Ministry of Defense

 

[IBRIS]

Indian Navy, Coast Guard to be Aided by Satellite based Coastal Security System

The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Telemetry Tracking and Command Network is developing a satellite based detection system for coastal security. These measures are now being initiated following the 2008 terrorist attacks in which terrorists entered Mumbai through the sea route.

The system will enhance the maritime surveillance plans of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Aviation Week quotes anonymous sources:
"AT PRESENT THE ICG IS EQUIPPED WITH TECHNOLOGY TO TRACE VESSELS WHICH ARE OVER 20 METERS [66 FT.] IN LENGTH. THE NEW RADAR WILL TAKE THE SURVEILLANCE TO VESSELS BELOW 20 METERS, WHICH IS VERY CRUCIAL. GENERALLY SMALL BOATS POSE BIGGER THREATS."

The new facility will be tested by the Tri-Service Command at Andaman with the help of ISRO's ground station.
"THE COASTAL SECURITY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONCERNS OF INDIAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE OFFICIALS POST-[MUMBAI ATTACKS]. THE LACK OF [NEW] SYSTEMS HAS [BEEN] SEEN AS A SERIOUS LAPSE BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ... NOW, WITH ISRO STEPPING IN, IT WILL ADD MORE TEETH TO INDIA'S MARITIME SECURITY PLANS. BANGALORE-BASED BHARAT ELECTRONICS LTD. ALSO IS DEVELOPING NEW RADARS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN VARIOUS COASTAL LINES. USER TRIALS ARE OVER AND THE PROJECT HAS NOW ENTERED THE EXECUTION STAGE."

At present, Coast Guard vessels communicate with VHF transmitters. The new satellite-based system will enable the Coast Guard and the Navy to track vessels accurately and locate the ones that are not registered.

 

[Tshering22]

^^ Great news. Seems like the military is not sitting idle like the political elite of our country. I think that Coast Guard should also take a leaf out of IN's book and start going aggressively indigenous. The Dornier aircraft can easily be replaced by NAL SARAS with a few modifications to the latter. Same way, the CG must start acquiring indigenous armored hovercraft with Gatling cannons, short and medium range missiles as well as rocket launchers. Currently only some companies as one in Chennai builds civilian hovercraft. This company can be given some tech transfers and asked to build military versions of their product and install Indian/GLONASS communication and tracking systems on them. Afterall, we're financial partners in GLONASS programme and Russia has signed an MOU with us to share the full access of military signal. About time we use this in CG as well alongside the tri-services.

Apart from this, Dhruvs should be handed over en masse to replace the Chetaks and Cheetahs for better surveillance. The South Korean CG has more choppers than our own which is a shame since they outnumber us 3:1 despite having a coastline 1/10th our size. Apart from this, fast attack boats, midget submarines etc must also be equipped

 

[SHASH2K2]

Andaman has already been an important location in Indian strategy against Chinese policy of string of pearls. Its our stationary Aircraft carrier. we already have presence of all 3 branch of forces there. we should improve our infrastructure there. make it a fortress thats invincible for Chinese navy. Thats our Iron curtain against string of pearls.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.sify.com/news/indian-navy-plans-base-in-lakshadweep-news-national-lbxqugbeeid.html


New Delhi: The Indian Navy, the world's sixth largest naval force, which is slowly building up capabilities to operate for prolonged periods at sea, is planning to open an operations base in the Lakshadweep islands to spruce up coastal security to prevent 26/11-type terror strikes and stop piracy in the Arabian Sea.

This will be the navy's second base in India's island territories after the one in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and its sixth base overall.

As part of its long-term plans, the navy will initially open a detachment in the Lakshadweep chain and base a couple of warships there, apart from an air element for aerial patrols in the region, a senior navy officer said.

In the near future, the detachment will be converted into a full-fledged base with a larger number of warships, aircraft and helicopters operating from there.

Sri Lankan navy denies killing Indian fisherman

India had last month commissioned a Coast Guard district headquarters in Kavaratti and a station in Minicoy, both in the Lakshadweep islands, as part of its plans to restructure and strengthen the coastal security set-up there.

"All these are part of the coastal security plans worked out following the Mumbai terror attack. There is a greater emphasis on having a robust security for the island territories and their surrounding areas," the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said.

The waters around Lakshadweep have in recent months witnessed heightened activity by pirates, who were successful in hijacking a Bangladeshi-flaged merchant vessel about 90 nautical miles off Kochi and 80 nautical miles off Minicoy Dec 5 last year.

Increased presence of the sea brigands in the central and eastern Arabian Sea is being witnessed since November, perceived as a fallout of the multinational anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden close to the Somali coast.

India had joined the multinational anti-piracy efforts in October 2008 and since then has had a continued presence there by positioning a warship in the Gulf of Aden.

In the earlier months too, pirates had ventured into the Arabian Sea, increasing the fear of attacks and hijackings of merchant vessels.

This had led to the navy deciding to permanently deploy two warships in the central and eastern Arabian Sea , but in a flexible formation for redeployment on an 'as required' basis.

These efforts are meant for securing the focal points along the sea lanes of communication, which witness heavy commercial shipping activity all year long, the officer said.

India says killing of fisherman 'unacceptable'

The terror and piracy threats apart, the navy's presence around the Lakshadweep islands would also deter poachers and smugglers from venturing into the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters, thereby preventing illegal activities in the region.

In the 26/11 attack, 10 terrorists had sneaked into Mumbai through the sea route, taking the Arabian Sea route from Pakistan.

The Indian Navy currently operates about 140 warships, including a lone aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, from its five bases at Mumbai, Karwar in Karnataka, Kochi in Kerala - all on the west coast - Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on the east coast and at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The navy also has an air wing comprising 40 aircraft, including 10 British-origin Sea Harriers and 16 Russian-made MiG-29K fighter jets.

The latter will be deployed on the Admiral Gorshkov carrier that is currrently refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia and is expected to join the fleet in 2012-13. The MiG-29 will also be deployed on the indigenous aircraft carrier being constructed in a Kochi shipyard and which is expected to be inducted by 2015.

Navy to decommission INS Virat by 2018

Once the Gorshkov, rechristened INS Vikramaditya, joins the fleet, the Indian Navy will be operating two Carrier Battle Groups - potent combat formations - on both the western and eastern seaboards.

The Indian Navy's deep striking warfare and strategic capabilities got a major boost Friday with the induction by Defence Minister A.K. Antony of the third fleet tanker, the state-of-the-art INS Deepak, which will be followed by a similar one in nine months.

The Italian-built tanker will enable warships operate for prolonged periods on the high seas without returning to harbour for replenishment or refuelling.

A fleet tanker is as much useful to warships as mid-air refuellers are for fighter jets for extending their operational range.

(N.C. Bipindra can be contacted at [email protected]

 

[StealthSniper]

The Indian Navy is the world's sixth largest? I though we were the 4th largest or something.

 

[civfanatic]

The Indian Navy is the world's sixth largest? I though we were the 4th largest or something.

It depends on the criteria you use: number of ships, number of personnel, total tonnage of ships, etc.

I'm not sure which criterion this article used.

 

[joe81]

A much needed base for IN. This base will provide IN furthur presence in Arabian Sea and enhance its presence in the Indian Ocean.

 

[sandeepdg]

It depends on the criteria you use: number of ships, number of personnel, total tonnage of ships, etc.

I'm not sure which criterion this article used.

This ranking must be on tonnage basis. In terms of fleet strength and regular personnel employed, IN is the 4th largest after USN, PLA Navy and the Russian Navy.

 

[RPK]

IAF to increase level of its force in Andaman and Nicobar
IAF to increase level of its force in Andaman and Nicobar, IBN Live News

PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 23,2011

New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI) In the backdrop of increasing Chinese activities in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region, the Indian Air Force is planning to increase the level of its forces in the Andaman and Nicobar islands."Of course, we are but in a planned manner. Its not immediately over a next two or three plans we have to build up Andaman and Nicobar islands," IAF Chief Air Chief marshal P V Naik told reporters here.The IAF chief was responding to queries about the need to build up its assets in the island territory in view of the activities of other forces there.The IAF has in the recent past operated its frontline SU-30MKI air superiority aircraft from its bases in Car Nicobar islands.Reports in the past have suggested that the Chinese Navy has been active close to the Coco Islands in Myanmar and has been operating there.To strengthen its defences, India has already set up a tri-services command under a three-star officer in the region close to the South East Asian countries.IAF has been strengthening its presence in the South to protect the country's interests in the Indian Ocean Region.With the induction of force multipliers such as the mid-air refullers, the Air Force has expanded its strategic reach and is capable of carrying out long range operations.PTI AJD AD

 

[utubekhiladi]

it is naval air arm who needs to boost its defenses in islands.

 

[Blackwater]

They should have done it long time back. i personally visited Andaman islands in 1995. India failed to recon its importance as big naval base. Jai ho

 

[ace009]

The Naval air arm is not good enough at this time. All they have is a few Mig-29Ks and a few Harriers. Even one squadron of Su-30 MKI will be good there.

 

[utubekhiladi]

The Naval air arm is not good enough at this time. All they have is a few Mig-29Ks and a few Harriers. Even one squadron of Su-30 MKI will be good there.

right, but you cannot expect air force to do the job of naval air arm. we need to modernize Naval Air Arm asap..

 

[civfanatic]

right, but you cannot expect air force to do the job of naval air arm. we need to modernize Naval Air Arm asap..

There should be assets from both IAF and IN air arm in the Andamans.

Su-30MKIs (IAF) for air superiority and P-8Is (IN) for ASW and maritime patrol.

 

[utubekhiladi]

There should be assets from both IAF and IN air arm in the Andamans.

Su-30MKIs (IAF) for air superiority and P-8Is (IN) for ASW and maritime patrol.

then where will you put Mig29k's and upcoming tejas navy variant? if you really want su30mki to protect that Island then i recommend that you give dozen of mki's along with required talents to naval air arm rather than involving IAF in that area. why engage 2 resouces when one can do the job. we need IAF to protect north. IAF and INS operation are different from each other.

i think Mig29k is a splendid fighter and specially designed for navy operations. Mig29k and along with tejas naval version should pack enough punch to protect our interest in that island.

 

[ace009]

All Mig-29s have short ranges. Even with all upgrades, the Mig 29K still has a smaller combat radius (1000 km) than the Su 30 MKI (1500 km). It can also carry fewer AA missiles. This is because Mig 29K has been developed as a naval carrier fighter-bomber and is not an air-superiority fighter like the MKI.

In short, IAF and IN should both be present in the islands - one for Air superiority and one for air-denial/ strike missions.

Russian Navy will replace the Su-33 with MiG-29K aircraft carriers as -- China daily

 

[civfanatic]

then where will you put Mig29k's and upcoming tejas navy variant? if you really want su30mki to protect that Island then i recommend that you give dozen of mki's along with required talents to naval air arm rather than involving IAF in that area. why engage 2 resouces when one can do the job. we need IAF to protect north. IAF and INS operation are different from each other.

MiG-29Ks and Tejas-Ns both belong on carrier decks, not on air strips. The MiG-29K will be used as the primary carrier-borne fighter, and the Tejas will serve as an advanced trainer and light striker.

The Su-30MKIs should be placed in the Andamans because of their great range. Their responsiblity should not necessarily be the protection of the islands themselves, but the area around it. The Andamans guard a vital patch of ocean that seperates the Malacca Sea from the Bay of Bengal. In order for our naval interdiction and ASW assets to operate freely in this environment, there needs to be a dedicated air superiority fighter to deny the airspace to enemy aircraft. A quick look at a map will give a good idea of what I'm talking about.

If necessary, we can hand over a squadron of MKIs to the IN to make operations easier. The Russian Naval Aviation actually operates land-based Su-27s in a similar role.

i think Mig29k is a splendid fighter and specially designed for navy operations. Mig29k and along with tejas naval version should pack enough punch to protect our interest in that island.

The fundamental problem with the MiG-29K is its short range, which makes it unsuitable for air superiority operations from the Andamans. It is a great fighter for carrier operations I agree, but that's not what we're talking about here.

 

[bhramos]

Their are some squadrons of for specially Naval attack or Maritime role, like Jaguar-IM and Su-30MKI, so no need to feel tension. the Brahmos ASCM is deployed in similar role of Su-30MKI.....

 

[Kunal Biswas]

MiG-29Ks and Tejas-Ns both belong on carrier decks, not on air strips. The MiG-29K will be used as the primary carrier-borne fighter, and the Tejas will serve as an advanced trainer and light striker.

The Su-30MKIs should be placed in the Andamans because of their great range. Their responsiblity should not necessarily be the protection of the islands themselves, but the area around it. The Andamans guard a vital patch of ocean that seperates the Malacca Sea from the Bay of Bengal. In order for our naval interdiction and ASW assets to operate freely in this environment, there needs to be a dedicated air superiority fighter to deny the airspace to enemy aircraft. A quick look at a map will give a good idea of what I'm talking about.

LCA is more or less same as MIG-29 in strike attack also CAP missions, Both fighter are good enough..

The placement of 25 or two squadrons of MKI in Andaman is to carry out long range antiship with brahmos also in CAP..

The only fighter we will face is from PLAN carrier..

Andaman needed to be fortified, More Ground based Brahmos and other cruise missiles, More airbases, More fighter, More Docks, More men with Armour in plenty..