Indian Navy Developments & Discussions

[RPK]

16 naval exercises in 3 months - DNAIndia.com

Mumbai: The Western fleet of Indian Navy successfully completed one of the largest and longest deployment exercises in the western hemisphere, in which it conducted joint exercises with 16 navies. The exercise--codenamed Sambandh 2009--stretched over three months and passed through 18 countries, covering a distance of 68,000 nautical miles.

Four warships--INS Delhi, INS Brahmaputra, INS Beas and INS Aditya--carrying 1,376 Indian Navy personnel traversed through the Arabian Sea, Meditteranean Sea, Red Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to conduct the joint exercises.

The joint exercise with the Royal Navy of United Kingdom was named Konkan 2009, and the one with the French Navy was christened Varuna 2009. These helped navy personnel learn about anti-submarine operations. Both navies provided their nuclear submarines for the exercise, which was held in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. They were earlier held only in the Indian Ocean.

Talking about the exercise, Rear Admiral SPS Cheema, the Flag Officer commanding the western fleet, said, "The exercise was completed successfully, and it helped prove our prowess and efficiency to navies of foreign countries. It also helped us learn about maintenance, use of technology and the working style of other navies, and similarly they learned from and admired ours."

He added, "The joint exercises conducted with foreign navies will be useful in future operations and co-operation at the sea. Also, we are maintaining a database of ships passing from the Gulf of Eden." The Gulf of Eden is a popular sea route among ships from Asia, Africa and European countries, and the Indian Navy has been escorting merchant ships in these waters as pirates operating there have targeted merchant ships at earlier instances.

Keeping a check on terrorist activities, drug trafficking, piracy and human trafficking was also a part of the operation. In addition to Varuna and Konkan operations, the ships undertook passage exercises with navies of countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Algeria, Eritrea, Israel, Libya, France and Australia.

 

[RPK]

On board the 'around the world' yacht- TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

Even as the Indian Navy aspires becoming a world power with more aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, it is quietly trying to beat the world in a different league. Come August 19 and Commander Donde will set out on sailing yatch - INSV Mhadei - to circumnavigate the globe - first ever by an Indian. TIMES NOW is the only news channel to have been allowed a sail with him from Goa to Mumbai.

Navy's first ever sailing yatch, the Mhadei is a symbol of India's attempt at mastering the global waters and the Indian Navy has entrusted the job to Commander Dilip Donde.

Freemantle in Australia, Christchurch in New Zealand, Falklands islands off South America and Cape of Good Hope in South Africa are the locations Commander Donde will land at.

Mhadei's task will entail covering a distance of over 21000 nautical miles which will take atleast 7 months with just four landings.

TIMES NOW is the first television crew to have sailed on board INSV Mhadei, covering a distance of over 200 nautical miles from Goa to Mumbai. The journey took a little under 32 hours but for commander donde, much work lies ahead.

Commander Donde said, "This is Navy's first ever sailing yatch and it has been tested by people who have taken part in similar expeditions and they have given positive reactions. We will only know the reality once we take her out but I am satisfied with it."

While aircraft carriers, ships and submarines may be vital to India's maritime security, it is only when the people of India begin to have a maritime outlook, that is take interest in adventure, sports and sea-based activities - that our maritime borders will be better secured.

 

[RPK]

Indian Navy a big challenge for China


CHENNAI: Though China has been engaged in developing three ports at Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan thus encircling India, the weak area for the country today is the Indian Navy, Naval Chief of Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, said here on Thursday.


Speaking to reporters here at a function held at Chennai Port on Thursday, the Admiral said, “The Chinese efforts and help to Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Myanmar to build ports in their countries were a part of its strategy to get a foothold in the ocean, but one has to understand the fact that it is not so easy for them (China) to come inside the Indian Ocean where our navy has better presence.” On a question about India being encircled by Chinese-sponsored ports in its Asian neighbourhood, Mehta said that Beijing was building such dependency ports as part of its strategy to have a strong footing in the ocean in future. While reacting to his reported statement on China-India comparison a few days ago, Mehta said, “During the intellectual discussion a few days ago, I spoke about several national security issues there but the media picked my China-related statement only.” Strongly discounting the number game with China, Admiral Mehta said, “It’s not that you have 50 ships, I have 50 ships. I may have 10 ships which are much smarter and better and let us do that.” To a query on the recent detention of North Korean cargo ship MV Musan near Hutbay in South Andaman, Mehta said that no full details were available at this point of time. “But with North Korea, we have to be doubly sure. But prima facie, it looks like the ship got some genuine cargo which was destined for Iraq,” he said. However, he added that the ship was being towed to Kakinada Port and different agencies would investigate the matter there.

 

[RPK]

'Pilot for a day' project by navy for school kids - Goa - City - NEWS - The Times of India


PANAJI: The Indian Navy is all set to throw open the doors of its premier Naval Air Base INS Hansa to young students of Goa.


In a unique opportunity for boys and girls between the ages of 12 to 17, students from schools will get a chance to experience what it is like to be a Navy Pilot.

The project called ‘Pilot for a Day’ will provide an insight into a day in the life of a pilot to one student every month. The navy will also extend this project to special children.

The schools in Goa could select one student each based on academic achievements and allround abilities. The selected student would be hosted by the navy as the ‘pilot for a day’.

The ‘pilot for a day’ will be taken around air squadrons and other facilities at Goa and will also get an opportunity to fly in the vertical take off Sea Harrier aircraft simulator.

This initiative is a part of the Indian Navy’s attempts to create awareness amongst young Goans about naval aviation and motivate them to join their navy, states a press note issued by commander M C Joshi.

Schools interested in participating could contact Cdr HPadbidri on telephones 258 5090 and 9421126226.

 

[youngindian]

INS Viraat gears up for golden jubilee

August 17th, 2009

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) It’s an old warhorse, 50 years old to be exact. But after a life-extending refit, India’s lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat is back to show it still has enough steam to give the jitters to the enemy.

INS Viraat, meaning giant in Sanskrit and which has a crew of 1,500 personnel, has been docked at Cochin Shipyard Ltd for the past year for repair and maintenance. The refit will increase the aircraft carrier’s sea life with the Indian Navy till 2015.“The refit of the aircraft carrier has been completed. Currently it is floating (in the docks),” a senior official at the shipyard told IANS requesting anonymity. “By the beginning of next month, it is expected to go to its parent base at Mumbai in the Western Naval Command.”

And it will be received with a great bang. A golden jubilee celebration for completing 50 years of service.

The 28,000-tonne INS Viraat, the Centaur class aircraft carrier, was originally commissioned in the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes Nov 18, 1959. The Indian Navy acquired the platform in 1987 after it had served the Royal Navy for nearly 28 years.

An extensive refit - with brand new fire control equipment, navigation radars, improved nuclear, biological and chemical protection and deck landing aids - increased the life of the vessel into the next decade.

In September 1993, the engine room of Viraat was flooded, temporarily putting the vessel out of service. By 1995, the vessel was back with a new search radar.

Apart from some major and minor refits at different times, including one in 2006, INS Viraat underwent an extensive life-extension refit in 1999-2000, with new and upgraded propulsion, sensors, sonar, radars, weapons, communication and flood-control systems.

A Royal Navy team will also attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Viraat.

The aircraft carrier gives the Indian Navy an edge over the Chinese navy, which does not have one.

The Indian Navy will get its second aircraft carrier - the Russian-built Admiral Gorshkov - which is expected to be inducted by 2012.

INS Viraat is pivotal to the navy’s aim to project its naval and air power beyond its borders. It provides operation ground for Sea Harrier combat jets. It can embark up to 18 combat aircraft and is suited for supporting amphibious operations and conducting anti-submarine warfare.

Gorshkov, on the other hand, will operate 16 MiG-29 K fighter jets. The two aircraft carriers will increase the reach of the India’s blue water navy.

India earlier this year laid the keel for its indigenous 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier at the Cochin Shipyard. The carrier would be inducted by 2015.

On July 26, India launched into the waters its first indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine, built under the Advanced Technology Vessel project with Russian help. Once this vessel, INS Arihant, is commissioned around 2012, India will become only the sixth country after the US, Russia, China, France and Britain to possess a nuclear-powered submarine.

(INS Viraat refit complete, gears up for golden jubilee

 

[RPK]

Coastal security faces shipbuilding delays

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers,

India’s coastal and maritime problems are growing faster than the fleet of ships needed to deal with them. Here in Kolkata, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), two newly built patrol ships have lain for two months, waiting for collection by the Indian Navy. But the admirals insist: first meet the navy’s performance requirements.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister A K Antony travels on Thursday to the Maldives to extend India’s maritime security network to that island nation. And an unauthorised North Korean freighter, espied lurking in Indian waters off the Andaman Islands early this month, underscores the urgent need for more patrolling.

GRSE, India’s second-biggest defence shipyard, got a Rs 514-crore order in March 2006 to build 10 Water Jet propelled Fast Attack Craft (WJ-FACs), whose high-tech German MTU water-jet engines could propel these sleek vessels through the water at 65 kmph, tackling threats along the coastline for up to 3,600 km without refuelling.

After the Mumbai attacks on 26/11, the need for such craft was felt more than ever. The first two WJ-FACs — INS Car Nicobar and INS Chetlat — were press-ganged into the navy in February 2009, even though they were restricted to just 50 kmph by flawed gearboxes supplied by Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Ltd (KPCL).

But now the navy has refused to accept the next two WJ-FACs — INS Cora Divh and INS Cheriyam — until KPCL rectifies the transmission systems that it had developed and supplied to GRSE.

Rear Admiral K C Sekhar, GRSE chairman and managing director, told Business Standard that KPCL had already supplied 30 defective gearboxes (three go into each WJ-FAC), but had now taken some back to diagnose and resolve the problem.

“I expect three gearboxes to come back very shortly,” said Admiral Sekhar, “and we have a commitment from KPCL that they will be responsible for their product. Any additional expenditure incurred will be their responsibility.”

KPCL is unlikely, however, to pick up the tab for the growing expenditure on trials. And GRSE supervisors say the morale of workers — who are pushed hard to get vessels ready for on-time delivery — suffers when buyers reject a completed ship. KPCL has not responded to repeated requests for their comments.

As coastal security grows in importance, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard are acquiring greater numbers of patrol vessels and attack craft. These smaller, lightly armed vessels, like the Car Nicobar Class WJ-FACs, are lighter, cheaper, easier to build, and better suited for coastal surveillance than the capital warships — corvettes, frigates and destroyers — that are designed and built for war.

Vice-Admiral Arun Kumar Singh, who until recently commanded the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, points to the growing importance of coastal security: “The term ‘a balanced Navy’ has now acquired a different meaning altogether; a ‘brown water’ coastal force is as relevant and essential as a ‘blue water’ force.”

In recent years, the navy has built 7 Sukanya Class offshore patrol vessels, one of which was sold to Sri Lanka; 4 Trinkat Class fast patrol vessels (FPVs), one of which was given to the Maldives and one to Seychelles; 7 Super Dvora Mark II class FPVs; and 4 Bangaram Class fast attack craft (FACs). In addition, four Saryu Class offshore patrol vessels are being built by Goa Shipyard Ltd.

The 10 Car Nicobar class WJ-FACs, with their ability to react quickly at high speeds, are purpose designed for coastal security. These 50 metres long, 600-tonne vessels are crewed by 35 sailors. Each WJ-FAC is armed with a 30 mm CRN-91 automatic cannon that can engage targets up to 3 kilometres away.

 

[nitesh]

good news:

Navy likely to get new diesel submarines

one more:

Indian Aircraft Carrier Back in Service in a Month - Defense News

The Navy's long-term plans include a blue water force with six aircraft carriers and improvements in littoral warfare capabilities.

 

[nitesh]

Navy chief reviews Eastern Fleet

 

[RPK]

INS Viraat out of dry dock, to sail to Gulf of Aden soon - dnaindia.com

New Delhi: With its lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat out of the dry dock at the Kochi shipyard, India is likely to briefly deploy the warship to the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden and West Asia next month in a show of its naval might.

"INS Viraat is out of dry dock and is afloat at the Chochin Shipyard, where it went through a refit and upgrade programme for a year now. In another three weeks, all refit work on the ship will be completed. It is likely to sail for about a month-and-a-half in the Arabian Sea and may go up to the Gulf of Aden," Navy officers said here today.

"This Viraat deployment is only for power projection and not for anti-piracy operations," they said.

When Viraat returns to its homeport Mumbai after this brief trip, there are plans to celebrate the 50th year of its naval service in the Indian Navy and in the British Royal Navy in its previous avatar as HMS Hermes.

Viraat had moved into Cochin Shipyard's dry dock late last year to undergo the mandatory maintenance refit and repair.

The ship is in its final leg of the refit programme under which its radars, fire control system and fighter aircraft landing aids were upgraded, sources said.

"This warship, the largest at present in the Indian Navy with a 29,000-tonne displacement, can be dry docked only in the Cochin Shipyard, being the only such facility in the country," the shipyard's officials said.

On November 18 this year, INS Viraat will complete 50 years of cumulative service, considering its commissioning in both the British Royal Navy and the Indian Navy. On May 12 this year, INS Viraat will complete 23 years of its service with the Indian Navy.

India purchased the Centaur Class aircraft carrier in 1987 from the British after it had served the latter's Navy for nearly 28 years since its induction on November 18, 1959. New Delhi re-christened HMS Hermes as INS Viraat.

With the purchase of Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier from Russia in 2004 and its likely induction as INS Vikramaditya by 2012 along with 16 MiG-29K fighters, the Navy hopes to have two fully-operational "carrier battle groups" by 2012 to act as a stabilising influence in the entire Indian Ocean and beyond.

Though India has had problems with the Russians demanding USD 2.9 billion for Gorshkov, the ship's refit and repair at Sevmash shipyard is progressing so that it could be delivered by 2012, Navy officials said.

Moreover, the 40,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), being built at the Cochin Shipyard, is likely to be fully operational sometime in 2015, which was reason enough to keep INS Viraat operational till then, Navy officers said.

 

[youngindian]

'Second indigenous nuke sub will be ready soon'

Tue, 18 Aug 2009

New Delhi: India's second indigenous nuclear-powered submarine will be ready soon and will take less time from launch to induction than the first one, says a retired Indian Navy officer who was associated with the top secret project since its inception.

"The second one will be ready and will take lesser time," Vice Admiral (retd.) Mihir K. Roy told.

Roy, who is now 84, was the first head of the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) that was launched in 1984 and guided it during its first four years. He has been involved in all the back room negotiations with the then Soviet Union, which assisted in the project. He is now director of think tank Society for Indian Ocean Studies.

Roy said the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 delayed the ATV project, under which India aimed to initially design and construct three nuclear-powered combat submarines within the country.

The first vessel, INS Arihant, was launched into the waters July 26. When she is inducted into service after three-years of sea trials, India will became only the sixth country in the world after the US, Russia, Britain, France and China to be capable of designing and constructing nuclear-powered nuclear submarines.

"We were going fast (on the project). But there was a long delay. Then the USSR fell and there was tremendous social, political and technological changes in the country. All contracts (on the ATV project) were changed," Roy said.

"In 2004, Russia stabilised and we signed fresh contracts in dollars. Money was a problem for them because they (Russians) were short of dollars," he added.

The Soviet Union had in 1981 offered to help with the design and construction of a nuclear submarine. In 1988, it had also leased a nuclear submarine, INS Chakra, for five years to enable the Indian Navy, its first batch of officers and sailors, in operating such vessels.

The ATV project was made successful by the close partnership of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and other public and private sector undertakings.

The project was conceptualised around the same time as those to produce an indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) and a main battle tank MBT). Both these projects have suffered heavy cost and time overruns, making the launch of INS Arihant a "historic milestone" for the Indian Navy.

"I said that I wanted to report directly to the defence minister, with no interference from secretaries and bureaucrats. It worked. Decisions were made across the table," said Roy, a submariner and former chief of the Eastern Naval Command.

He noted that extra security precautions had to be taken to maintain the secrecy of the project to prevent triggering an arms race on the subcontinent.

"We did not even have a name plate (outside the office). Nobody in my family, not even my wife, was aware what I was doing. On July 26 (when INS Arihatn was launched) my

grandchildren said: 'You never told us!' " Roy said.

"I got the dry docks (at the Visakhapatnam Ship Building Centre) covered; otherwise satellites would have spotted the vessel and taken pictures," Roy reminisced, adding: "I also got the dry docks lengthened."


'Second indigenous nuke sub will be ready soon' :: Samay Live

 

[venom]

Broadsword: Gearbox problems delay the Car Nicobar class Fast Attack Craft: Coastal security faces shipbuilding delays

 

[Daredevil]

Car Nicobar class Fast Attack Craft

Gearbox problems delay the Car Nicobar class Fast Attack Craft: Coastal security faces shipbuilding delays

INS Cheriyam, the third Water Jet driven Fast Attack Craft (WJ-FAC) of the Car Nicobar class, berthed at GRSE.

By Ajai Shukla
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata
Business Standard, 18th August 09

India’s coastal and maritime problems are growing faster than the fleet of ships needed to deal with them. Here in Kolkata, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), two newly built patrol ships have lain for two months, waiting for collection by the Indian Navy. But the admirals insist: first meet the navy’s performance requirements.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister AK Antony travels on Thursday to the Maldives to extend India’s maritime security network to that island nation. And an unauthorised North Korean freighter, espied lurking in Indian waters off the Andaman Islands early this month, underscores the urgent need for more patrolling

GRSE, India’s second-biggest defence shipyard, got a Rs 514 crore order in March 2006 to build ten Water Jet propelled Fast Attack Craft (WJ-FACs), whose high-tech German MTU water-jet engines could propel these sleek vessels through the water at 65 kmph, tackling threats along the coastline for up to 3600 km without refuelling.

After the Mumbai attacks on 26/11, the need for such craft was felt more than ever. The first two WJ-FACs --- INS Car Nicobar and INS Chetlat --- were press-ganged into the navy in February 09, even though they were restricted to just 50 kmph by flawed gearboxes supplied by Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (KPCL).

But now the navy has refused to accept the next two WJ-FACs --- INS Kora Divh and INS Cheriyam --- until KPCL rectifies the transmission systems that it had developed and supplied to GRSE.

Rear Admiral KC Sekhar, GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, told Business Standard that KPCL had already supplied 30 defective gearboxes (three go into each WJ-FAC), but had now taken some back to diagnose and resolve the problem.

“I expect three gearboxes to come back very shortly”, said Admiral Sekhar, “And we have a commitment from KPCL that they will be responsible for their product. Any additional expenditure incurred will be their responsibility.”

KPCL is unlikely, however, to pick up the tab for the growing expenditure on trials. And GRSE supervisors say the morale of workers --- who are pushed hard to get vessels ready for on-time delivery --- suffers when buyers reject a completed ship.

KPCL has not responded to repeated requests for their comments.

As coastal security grows in importance, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard are acquiring greater numbers of patrol vessels and attack craft. These smaller, lightly armed vessels, like the Car Nicobar Class WJ-FACs, are lighter, cheaper, easier to build, and better suited for coastal surveillance than the capital warships --- corvettes, frigates and destroyers --- that are designed and built for war.

Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh, who until recently commanded the Eastern Naval Command in Vishakhapatnam points to the growing importance of coastal security: “The term ‘a balanced Navy’ has now acquired a different meaning altogether; a ‘brown water’ coastal force is as relevant and essential as a ‘blue water’ force.

In recent years, the navy has built 7 Sukanya Class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), one of which was sold to Sri Lanka; 4 Trinkat Class fast patrol vessels (FPVs), one of which was given to Maldives and one to Seychelles; 7 Super Dvora Mark II class FPVs; and 4 Bangaram Class fast attack craft (FACs). In addition, four Saryu Class offshore patrol vessels are being built by Goa Shipyard Limited.

The 10 Car Nicobar class WJ-FACs, with their ability to react quickly at high speeds, are purpose designed for coastal security. These 50 metres long, 600-tonne vessels are crewed by 35 sailors. Each WJ-FAC is armed with a 30 mm CRN-91 automatic cannon that can engage targets up to 3 kilometers away.

 

[bhramos]

why are we not going in for more Air cushioned based Patrol offshore vessels???
which can be both multi-used as shore based & Offshore based as both Russia & UK are experts in building them....

 

[Sridhar]

INS Viraat refit complete, gears up for golden jubilee

BY:IANS
It’s an old warhorse, 50 years old to be exact. But after a life-extending refit, India’s lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat is back to show it still has enough steam to give the jitters to the enemy.
INS Viraat, meaning giant in Sanskrit and which has a crew of 1,500 personnel, has been docked at Cochin Shipyard Ltd for the past year for repair and maintenance. The refit will increase the aircraft carrier’s sea life with the Indian Navy till 2015.
“The refit of the aircraft carrier has been completed. Currently it is floating (in the docks),” a senior official at the shipyard told IANS requesting anonymity. “By the beginning of next month, it is expected to go to its parent base at Mumbai in the Western Naval Command.”
And it will be received with a great bang. A golden jubilee celebration for completing 50 years of service.
The 28,000-tonne INS Viraat, the Centaur class aircraft carrier, was originally commissioned in the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes Nov 18, 1959. The Indian Navy acquired the platform in 1987 after it had served the Royal Navy for nearly 28 years.
An extensive refit – with brand new fire control equipment, navigation radars, improved nuclear, biological and chemical protection and deck landing aids – increased the life of the vessel into the next decade.
In September 1993, the engine room of Viraat was flooded, temporarily putting the vessel out of service. By 1995, the vessel was back with a new search radar.
Apart from some major and minor refits at different times, including one in 2006, INS Viraat underwent an extensive life-extension refit in 1999-2000, with new and upgraded propulsion, sensors, sonar, radars, weapons, communication and flood-control systems.
A Royal Navy team will also attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Viraat.
The aircraft carrier gives the Indian Navy an edge over the Chinese navy, which does not have one.
The Indian Navy will get its second aircraft carrier – the Russian-built Admiral Gorshkov – which is expected to be inducted by 2012.
INS Viraat is pivotal to the navy’s aim to project its naval and air power beyond its borders. It provides operation ground for Sea Harrier combat jets. It can embark up to 18 combat and is suited for supporting amphibious operations and conducting anti-submarine warfare.
Gorshkov, on the other hand, will operate 16 MiG-29 K fighter jets. The two aircraft carriers will increase the reach of the India’s blue water navy.
India earlier this year laid the keel for its indigenous 37,500-tonne aircraft carrier at the Cochin Shipyard. The carrier would be inducted by 2015.
On July 26, India launched into the waters its first indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine, built under the Advanced Technology Vessel project with Russian help. Once this vessel, INS Arihant, is commissioned around 2012, India will become only the sixth country after the US, Russia, China, France and Britain to possess a nuclear-powered submarine.


INS Viraat refit complete, gears up for golden jubilee IDRW.ORG

 

[youngindian]

Malaysia's First Submarine Makes Port Call At Cochin

August 19, 2009

COCHIN, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's first submarine, on its maiden voyage to the naval base in Sepanggar Bay, Sabah, made a port call at the Indian naval dockyard here on Tuesday.

The Scorpene-class submarine, named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, which began its journey on July 9, transited in Jeddah and Djibouit, before reaching Cochin waters in Kerala.

In 2002, the Malaysian government acquired two submarines, jointly built by the French DCNS and Spanish Navantia experts at Cherbourg in France.

In January, the first submarine was handed over to the Royal Malaysian Navy at the naval base in Toulon.

INS Sujata (Indian navy's patrol vessel) received the submarine and the naval band INS Krishna gave them a warm reception. No joint operation was planned.

"Only a football match will be played with Indian naval cadets. Indian naval officials were present to receive the sub's crew," a high-ranking official of the Indian navy's Southern Command told Bernama.

After three days in Cochin, the diesel-powered submarine will depart for Lumut and Port Klang before reaching its final destination at Sepanggar in September.

The submarine commanded by Commander Zulhelmy Ithnain of the Royal Malaysian Navy is sailing with 35 crew members on board.

The underwater machine is named after Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

BERNAMA - Malaysia's First Submarine Makes Port Call At Cochin

 

[vijaytripoli]

Indian Navy likely to get new diesel submarines
The Defence Ministry is believed to have cleared the decks for the Navy to purchase diesel-powered submarines to replace its ageing fleet of Russian submarines. The purchase is reported to be worth over Rs 25,000 crore.


The proposed acquisition of submarines was discussed Monday during the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting which clears the acquisitions by the armed forces chaired by Defence Minister A K Antony. The meeting also discussed Armys proposal to upgrade Air Defence equipment guns and missiles systems.


Though the Indian Navy has already ordered six French Scorpene Hunter submarines, the first of which is expected to be inducted by 2012, at a cost of over Rs 18,000 crore, it is looking for a second line of modern submarines to replace the old Kilo and Foxtrot series submarines, which are currently the mainstay of its submarine fleet.


The Navy is keen on the new set of advanced submarines, equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), as it will considerably boost its ability to stay submerged.

The Navy had issued RFIs (Request for Information) to major companies including German HDW, French Armaris and Russian Rosoboronexport for the submarines in 2007 but it is yet to issue a tender for the acquisition. Sources, however, said the tender will be issued shortly.

The Navy is keen to expedite the acquisition of the submarines partly because Pakistan inducted its first AIP equipped French origin submarine last year.Unlike other warships, AIP equipped subs do not need to surface frequently to take in oxygen and can stay submerged for days. As a result these submarines are quieter than nuclear submarines and more enduring.


Besides acquiring new submarines, India is also in the process of inducting its own fleet of nuclear submarines. The first of the three indigenously built Arihant nuclear submarines was launched last month. Besides the Navy will also get a Russian Nerpa class nuclear attack submarine that on a ten year lease.
ASIAN DEFENCE

 

[Sridhar]

India sets up Joint operations centre for coastal defence in south

Published in General Indian Armed Forces News, Indian Navy News

The Southern Naval Command has established the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) at the Naval Base, Kochi. The JOC was inaugurated formally by Admiral Sureesh Mehta Chief of the Naval Staff earlier this week at a simple ceremony.
The JOC, set up on directives from the Government of India is expected to be the nerve center for all Operations pertaining to Coastal Defence for the State of Kerala. There are multiple agencies that have a stake in Coastal Security besides the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. These are the State Police, the Port Trusts, Fisheries Department, the Customs Department, Light House Authorities and Intelligence Agencies. The Joint Operations Center is expected to co ordinate and channelise the activities of all these agencies during operations to achieve synergy and uniformity of purpose.

The JOC operating from within the Naval Base has a central Operation cum Briefing Room from where communication with all agencies is possible. There are earmarked individual work centers for each agency too. The Centre has the facility to receive real time feed from the surveillance assets of Navy and Coast Guard as also from the Vessel Traffic Management System of the Cochin Port Trust. The JOC would be manned by personnel of the Navy and Coast Guard at all times. However during operations and other emergent situations, personnel from other Agencies would also be co opted to man JOC.



India sets up Joint operations centre for coastal defence in south | Frontier India Strategic and Defence - News, Analysis, Opinion - Aviation, Military, Commodity, Energy, Transportation, Conflict, Environment, Intelligence, Internal Security

 

[pyromaniac]

Indian Navy likely to get new diesel submarines
The Defence Ministry is believed to have cleared the decks for the Navy to purchase diesel-powered submarines to replace its ageing fleet of Russian submarines. The purchase is reported to be worth over Rs 25,000 crore.


The proposed acquisition of submarines was discussed Monday during the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting which clears the acquisitions by the armed forces chaired by Defence Minister A K Antony. The meeting also discussed Armys proposal to upgrade Air Defence equipment guns and missiles systems.


Though the Indian Navy has already ordered six French Scorpene Hunter submarines, the first of which is expected to be inducted by 2012, at a cost of over Rs 18,000 crore, it is looking for a second line of modern submarines to replace the old Kilo and Foxtrot series submarines, which are currently the mainstay of its submarine fleet.


The Navy is keen on the new set of advanced submarines, equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), as it will considerably boost its ability to stay submerged.

The Navy had issued RFIs (Request for Information) to major companies including German HDW, French Armaris and Russian Rosoboronexport for the submarines in 2007 but it is yet to issue a tender for the acquisition. Sources, however, said the tender will be issued shortly.

The Navy is keen to expedite the acquisition of the submarines partly because Pakistan inducted its first AIP equipped French origin submarine last year.Unlike other warships, AIP equipped subs do not need to surface frequently to take in oxygen and can stay submerged for days. As a result these submarines are quieter than nuclear submarines and more enduring.


Besides acquiring new submarines, India is also in the process of inducting its own fleet of nuclear submarines. The first of the three indigenously built Arihant nuclear submarines was launched last month. Besides the Navy will also get a Russian Nerpa class nuclear attack submarine that on a ten year lease.
ASIAN DEFENCE

I really really hope that we go for the German Subs...they are so much better than any other Diesel-Electric Submarine in the world. I am still not sure why we got the Scorpene in the first place, we should have gotten the U-214...*Sigh*

 

[pyromaniac]

China Navy is much larger but larger does not mean better

Conceding that China's Navy is much larger than India's, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta today said "larger does not mean better".

Admiral Mehta had recently said that China was likely to be more assertive on its claims in the neighbourhood and called for countering its space and cyber-warfare capabilities.

"Instead of taking one line, look at the full thing. The context in which I had said was 'Yes' they (China) have much larger Navy. Larger does not mean it is better," Admiral Mehta said on board 'INS Tabar' here.

"It's not like they have 10 ships and I will have 10 ships. May be I have ships which can do a better job than someone else's. So, I had said that we need to get smarter, rather than working up on increasing the strength and numbers to match with someone," he said.

On Prime Minister's statement that there was a terror threat to India, Admiral Mehta said, "No doubt, coast is vulnerable. Adequate measures have been taken to ensure safety."

On the ports set up by Sri Lanka and Pakistan with the help of China, he said, "Like we take steps to protect ourself from any harm, other nations also doing the same thing keeping in view their national interests." .


'China Navy is much larger but larger does not mean better' :: Samay Live

 

[I-G]

INS Viraat to be fully operational in 2 months
TNN 20 August 2009, 04:12am IST


NEW DELHI: India's solitary aircraft carrier INS Viraat will be fully-operational in another two months or so after undergoing an 18-month-long comprehensive refit to bolster its longevity as well as weapon and sensor packages.

The ageing INS Viraat, with its complement of Sea Harrier jump-jets, helicopters and 1,500-crew, has been out of action since early-2008, first at the Mumbai harbour and then at the Cochin Shipyard, as was first reported by TOI.

"INS Viraat has now come out of the dry dock at Kochi after most of the refit work has been completed. The rest of the work at Kochi should finish by August-end," said an officer.

"The warship will then undergo a work-up phase and trials off Mumbai before it becomes fully ready for operations. Though it is 50 years old now, we will be able to run it smoothly for another five years," he added.

Navy has been forced to go in for another refit of the 28,000-tonne old warhorse due to failure of successive governments to undertake long-term defence planning to build military capabilities in tune with the country's geostrategic objectives.

Navy has time and again told the political leadership that India needs three aircraft carriers — one each for the eastern and western seaboards, while the third undergoes repairs — to protect its growing strategic interests stretching from Africa's eastern coast right up to Malacca Strait.

But to no avail. The long-delayed 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard, for instance, will be ready only by 2015 at the earliest.

Then, of course, India will get the refurbished 44,570-tonne aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, undergoing a refit at the Sevmash Shipyard in North Russia, only by 2013 now.
INS Viraat to be fully operational in 2 months - India - NEWS - The Times of India