Indian Navy Developments & Discussions

[Singh]

INS Airavat commissioned in Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian Navy's
fighting prowess has received a big boost with the arrival of one of the biggest warships INS Airavat even as
the Navy top brass has confirmed that 32 warships and six submarines will be added to its fleet in the coming years.

Chief of naval staff admiral Sureesh Mehta on Tuesday commissioned Airavat, the fifth indigenously-built landing ship tank, into the naval fleet at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) base here. The warship can carry 10 main battle tanks, 11 combat trucks and 500 troops and has a considerable range and endurance on sea.

"Besides undertaking amphibious operations, the ship is a potent assault platform capable of operating both Sea King and Dhruv helicopters," a naval official said. Airavat is also fitted with two indigenous rocket launchers to support its amphibious operations.

The massive ship was formally handed over to the Navy in Kolkata on March 30 this year. "To thwart enemy attacks, Airavat has been upgraded with weapon sensors and indigenous radar systems," a spokesperson said. With an enhanced weapons package, latest control systems and excellent habitability conditions, Airavat steals a march, he said. The ship is the 132nd to be commissioned in the Indian Navy.

Naval sources said the warship also has soft-kill ability through chaff rockets which could be used to clutter the sensory inputs of an incoming energy aircraft or missile. "The ship is also fitted with remote propulsion control, battle damage control and automated power management systems," a source said.

Airavat also has advanced fire-resistant mechanisms and can act as a fleet tanker. According to the Navy, the ship can be effectively used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions during natural calamities like cyclones and earthquakes. "It can operate independently on the high seas for as long as 45 days," an official said.

Meanwhile, Mehta said the Navy would build six submarines and more warships using indigenous technology by 2012. However, the Navy's present rate of induction of three to four ships a year is inadequate to maintain its desired force levels, he said.

Admiral Mehta said the aircraft carrier vessel would be ready by the end of next year and completely operational by 2012. The alternative naval base in Visakha district would be made available in the next six years. To a question, he said the Indian Navy is a strong force and that LTTE rebels cannot cause any harm to the nation.

INS Airavat commissioned in Vizag - Hyderabad - Cities - The Times of India

 

[Singh]

INS Airavat Commissioned

INS Airavat, the fifth indigenously built Landing Ship Tank (Large) of the Indian Navy was commissioned by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Base here today, 19 May 09, at a colourful ceremony.

On arrival at the Naval Jetty the Chief Guest was received by Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. The Chief of Naval Staff was presented a Fifty-man Guard and introduced to the Ships Officers thereafter. Following the inaugural and keynote addresses delivered by Rear Admiral K C Sekhar (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, and Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma respectively, Commander Manish Sharma, Commanding Officer INS Airavat, read out the Commissioning Warrant. Hoisting of the Naval Ensign onboard for the first time and Breaking of the Commissioning Pennant with the National Anthem being played marked the formal Commissioning Ceremony.

Addressing the media personnel onboard Airavat, Chief of the Naval Staff congratulated the GRSE and other Indian PSUs like Bharat Electronics Medak, HAL, Keltron and private sector companies like Larsen and Toubro, Kirloskar, Godrej, and a host of small scale industries and sub-contractors who have contributed in building a fine ship. He said the ship would augment the operational capabilities and reach of the Eastern Naval Command, in addition to enhancing the amphibious and disaster relief potential of the Eastern Fleet.

Induction of INS Airavat adds thrust to the Indian Navys ongoing drive for indigenous warship production. The ship measures 125 meters in length, 17.5 meters in breadth and displaces 5655 tons. Third of the Shardul Class of ships, INS Airavat is the most contemporary and fully indigenized LST (L) in the Indian Navy. In addition to its primary role of Amphibious Operations carrying Battle Tanks, troops and vehicles to hostile coasts, the ship also forms a potent assault platform with Rockets and Chaff launchers, Anti-aircraft guns, shoulder launched Surface to Air Missiles and an integral Sea King or an Advanced Light Helicopter. On the other end of the spectrum, the ship can also be tasked as a Fleet Tanker, for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions or as a Hospital Ship. The improved aesthetics onboard Airavat, with the latest designs and marine grade material, vindicate the Navy's desire to provide better habitability to her men.

Other Distinguished Guests on the Occasion included Vice Admiral Ganesh Mahadevan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, in addition to Flag Officers and Senior Officers, both serving and retired and the families of the Ships crew who were embarked the Ship on completion of the Ceremony for a brief sea sortie along with the attendant media personnel.

PIB Press Release

 

[sayareakd]

we need more of these multi purpose landing ships..............

 

[ZOOM]

I would call this new addition to Indian Navy as a biggest boost for Humantarian crisis related mission. Since we hardly going to face any major Naval Conflict in future. We needed this INS Airavat Landing Ship very desperately, since India's overall capability to rescue people through Ocean is lagging far behind then even Small East Asian countries.

 

[thakur_ritesh]

Admiral Mehta inspects ceremonial guard

INS Airavat

INS Airavat

INS Airavat sails out of vizag harbour after commissioning

 

[Terminator]

Nice pictures Mithesh .Do you have closer pictures of this Ship?
Yeah saya we need dozens of these.Its need was felt at the lebanon conflict.
Do anyone know how fast it moves?

 

[Yusuf]

Moves at 16 knots (30 kmph)
Whats of importance is that it uses a Kirloskar engine. Means that the induction of private contractors for defense is well and truly underway which is very good news.

 

[Pintu]

A set of beautiful pictures of INS Airavat commissioning and a nice article posted by Singhji on the same, I agree with Anup, that we need more of them and same with fully agreeing with ZOOM , I must this type of Ship also needed not only in Humanitarian crisis but also during offensive action during war to over run enemy positions by the sea route and transport Mechanised units. Yes , the Private participation in the projects are really encouraging and much needed.

Regards

 

[Shiny Capstar]

Does anyone have any information on Indian Military (don't know who has charge in this area in the Indian Military) amphibious capabilities, doctrine and recent exercises.

I know they are building a new Amphibious Warfare School in the North East, Kakinada I think. Just wondering what kind of base they have for these kind of ops.

 

[Terminator]

Foolproof maritime security still a dream

Foolproof maritime security still a dream
3 yrs needed to build effective monitoring system: Navy

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Nation

New Delhi, March 22
The Navy has said it would take a few more years to build an effective system to prevent militants from using the sea route to carry out an attack like the one in Mumbai recently.

The existing post-26/11 security plan that envisages monitoring movement of all kinds of boats just can not be implemented in any quick-fix fashion. It would take nearly three years to build up capacities, have satellite links, radio transponders and fit boats with some tracking system enabling the network to constantly monitor around 3 lakh boats, including merchant ships, small boats and fishing trawlers, said Naval sources.

The Navy, that was given overall charge of the maritime security a couple of weeks ago, has also apprised the government of the fact that sea-borne militants like those who attacked Mumbai, might not come on these “monitored” boats.

Anybody boarding a boat forcibly, as they did, could very well destroy the tracking equipment installed on board by dumping it into the sea.

“The monitoring has to be a method that does not rely on co-operation of the boat owner alone. A radar or sensor-based system has to be juxtaposed with this monitoring system,” said Naval officials.

The government has already ordered aerostat radars worth $600 million that would dot the country’s coastline.

The government wanted all boats of sub-300 tonne variety to be fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS). At present, it is mandatory for merchant ships having more than 300 tonne capacity to have AIS to sail. In case, the same is installed on all boats, the existing system of monitoring would collapse as our ground and ship-based stations do not have the capacity to take on the additional load.

Presently, only non-fishing boats like passenger ferries of the sub-300 tonne variety will be on AIS that allows two-way communication. Other fishing boats will be fitted with a “b-class” AIS. This costs about Rs 5,000 per boat. It has lower frequency and does not allow two-way communication.

 

[Terminator]

Does anyone have any information on Indian Military (don't know who has charge in this area in the Indian Military) amphibious capabilities, doctrine and recent exercises.

I know they are building a new Amphibious Warfare School in the North East, Kakinada I think. Just wondering what kind of base they have for these kind of ops.

Hope this is what you meant.


India Aims Its Marines At China
India Aims Its Marines At China
India is building an Advanced Amphibious Warfare School near the port city of Kakinada, on the north east coast. The new school will be part of facility that will include a Fleet Support Base, which will improve security for the offshore Krishna-Godavri natural gas fields. Currently, India has about a thousand Marine Commandos, and several major amphibious ships (including a 17,000 American LPD, the former USS Trenton).

India is building naval bases on its east coast, and developing its amphibious capabilities to counter Chinese moves into the Indian Ocean. Although China denies any such intentions, China is dependent on oil, moved via the Indian Ocean from the Persian Gulf, as well as growing trade with Africa. China apparently does not want so much of its economy dependent on the good will of the Indian Navy.

 

[threadbrowser]

What about the poor Coast Guard?
I would really like them to get increased number of cutters and more UAVs.

 

[Terminator]

Navy itself is in bad shape so what can coast guard itself think of?

 

[Shiny Capstar]

Hope this is what you meant.


India Aims Its Marines At China
India Aims Its Marines At China
India is building an Advanced Amphibious Warfare School near the port city of Kakinada, on the north east coast. The new school will be part of facility that will include a Fleet Support Base, which will improve security for the offshore Krishna-Godavri natural gas fields. Currently, India has about a thousand Marine Commandos, and several major amphibious ships (including a 17,000 American LPD, the former USS Trenton).

India is building naval bases on its east coast, and developing its amphibious capabilities to counter Chinese moves into the Indian Ocean. Although China denies any such intentions, China is dependent on oil, moved via the Indian Ocean from the Persian Gulf, as well as growing trade with Africa. China apparently does not want so much of its economy dependent on the good will of the Indian Navy.

Mainly I was wondering what operational experience they have with amphibious ops in the past and present (large scale ones) and what their doctrine is in this area.
But this answers a few of my other queries, thank you.

 

[Shiny Capstar]

Foolproof security is impossible, there is always a chance of getting through.

 

[Terminator]

Mainly I was wondering what operational experience they have with amphibious ops in the past and present (large scale ones) and what their doctrine is in this area.
But this answers a few of my other queries, thank you.

you are welcome mate

 

[ZOOM]

Most Improtantly, it is good to hear that Indian Navy has a accepted about loopholes in Arabian Ocean as far as its Monitoring of its Big Coastline is concerned. Although they have ordered Aerostat radar which can be used to tract low flying object in the form of Aircraft alongwith Fidayeen elements on board having Sucide mission in their mindset. It is next to impossible for any Airforce to penetrate into Indian Sea lane.

Sometime back as well, Navy chief has expressed his concerned about Container ship movement, since according to him, even Nuclear weapon can be transported on Indian coastline, since there is no foolproof security measures being adopted on of India's several Port. At the same time, he said Pakistani Terror outfit can replicate Somalian Pirate tactis and hijeck big cargo ship which can be effectively used to onload massive explosives and rammed the same on India's busy Sea Lanes, Ports, Bombay High Oil Rigs and several other vital installation including Warships.

Terror challange from sea route is so tough that, it is next to impossible to prevent Pakistani terror element from sneaking inside Indian Waterways and create a havoc. We not only need State of the art Tech like Aerostate radar and Aircraft careers but also need massive help of Indian Fisherman who often come across unethical element sailing in ocean scot free. Under such circumstances, we atleast need to ensure that some floating object like Container ship with Nuclear warhead on board to sneak inside Indian waterlines. We require to employee atleast thousands of Fishermans at attractive incentives to manned those oceanline which aren't effectively come under the purview of IN or Indian Coast guard. For this matter we need to mobilize fishermans not only from Major coastal belt like Mumbai port, Gujarat situated port, but also all the villeges and localities basing on Indian Long coastal shoreline.

 

[Singh]

Saudi-Indian naval drill today

JEDDAH: Indian naval ships the INS Delhi and the INS Aditya, which are on a three-day goodwill visit, are scheduled to participate in a naval exercise with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in the Red Sea today.

Rear Adm. S.P.S. Cheema, flag officer commanding India’s Western Fleet, addresses a press conference with Indian Consul General Sayeed Ahmed Baba aboard the INS Aditya at Jeddah Islamic Port on Saturday. (AN photo)

“The passage exercise aims to promote greater interoperability and foster synergy between the two navies by mutual interaction in the practical aspects of seamanship, ship handling and various other naval solutions,” Rear Adm. S.P.S. Cheema, flag officer commanding India’s Western Fleet, told a press conference aboard the INS Aditya at the Jeddah Islamic Port on Saturday.

The INS Delhi, commanded by Capt. L.V. Sarat Babu, and the INS Aditya, commanded by Capt. Sanjiv Raj Kapoor, are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command based in Mumbai. Cheema, who heads the Task Group, is flying his flag on the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi. The ships are here as part of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to Russia, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The ships sailed out from Mumbai on May 13 on a two-and-a-half-month voyage.

Cheema said he had professional discussions with his counterpart Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Sultan, commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ Western Fleet.

“Saudi Arabia and India have historically shared strong ties in several spheres. India considers constructive engagement with the Kingdom and other maritime neighbors as a key to mutual progress and prosperity,” he said. “Defense cooperation has been mutually identified as a prominent avenue for promoting bilateral ties. Both nations have been increasingly interacting with each other’s armed forces over the last few years.”

Asked about the growing cases of pirates attacking ships, Cheema said: “Piracy is nothing new. It has been going on since times immemorial. More than 100,000 vessels cross the ocean waters a year. Concerted efforts on the part of the navies of various countries will be able to tackle the menace.”

He said the Indian Navy had been increasingly cooperating with its maritime neighbors to deal with common and transnational maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), such as piracy and sea-borne terrorism. In 2006, India spearheaded the launch of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, a cooperative security initiative for the IOR, with active participation from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The Royal Saudi Naval Forces visited India for the first time when the HMS Dammam and the HMS Yanbu sailed into Mumbai in July 2008. Earlier in August 2007, two Indian naval ships the INS Rajput and the INS Betwa undertook a goodwill visit to Jubail.

Cheema said India has made substantial progress in terms of designing and building warships “and the visiting ships are testimony to these capabilities.”

The INS Delhi is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, while the INS Aditya, a replenishment ship, is capable of sustaining warships for prolonged durations at sea.

Social engagements planned during the visit included an official reception on board the vessels and a meeting hosted by India Forum at the Consulate General of India on Friday evening. Rear Adm. Al-Sultan, Rear Adm. Faraz Al-Rowdan, commander, Navy School, and Rear Adm. Ibrahim Al-Dulaijan, deputy commander, besides other officials from the Royal Saudi Navy and consuls general of the United States, Japan, Germany, Oman and Greece, attended the reception.

School students and members of the community visited the ships in large numbers.

Saudi-Indian naval drill today

 

[EnlightenedMonk]

such as piracy and sea-borne terrorism

The last I knew, the Saudis were the biggest funders of international terrorism... isn't it ironic that we undertake anti-terror exercises with those same people??? That's like sleeping with your own rapist...

 

[nitesh]

'Rani Abbakka' commissioned into ICG

Visakhapatnam, May 28 : 'Rani Abbakka’, the first of the five Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV), built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), here today.

The Centre had already approved a large vessel, five off shore patrol vessels, ten fast patrol vessels, 25 inshore patrol vessels and 20 interceptor boats, he said, adding post Mumbai 26/11 attack, the security scenario had warranted extensive patrolling and enhanced surveillance along the coast in the country.