Indian Defence Forum

Video from April this year.


Key points in the speech:
  • When platforms like the Delhi-class were being commissioned, things were very different. It took us at least 6-8 hours of advance knowledge in order to effectively move these platforms from place to place. Sensors and systems gave a very limited picture of the battlefield situation. Automated software-based Platform-Management Systems did not exist, it was all manual controls. Effectiveness in using offensive missile systems was at a nascent stage.
  • Compare this to the situation today - the latest commissioned DDG being the INS Chennai (Kolkata-class). There's a world of difference - in all spheres of operational capability where the ship is expected to function. There are state-of-the-art Platform & Bridge-management systems, Damage-Control systems etc. Today the C&C functions in these ships have the capability to offload a payload from other ships in the vicinity, from the C&C center on this ship.
  • The IN has a clear game plan & perspective regarding what we need to do. A Navy is not built in a day, it takes a century - 50 years of which is the actual on-task work and rest is planning.
  • IN has a Maritime Perspective Plan and a Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP; 2012-2027) which overlooks the kind of platforms we need to procure over that period.
  • We're looking at a Navy of 150-180 major ships and up to 400 aircraft. But it's not the numbers that matter - it's the punch that these platforms have in terms of technology and firepower.
  • The use of technology has maximized. When you look at the platform it consists of just about everything - and we are willing to invite new technologies, and going through the processes of learning, before we standardize on that technology for future use.

  • IN's three areas of operation: Surface, Air & Underwater. IN is developing the indigenous ship-development capabilities using three points: Move, Float & Fight.
  • In the Float department, we have made significant progress. Warship-building steels are being produced in-country, the local Shipbuilding agencies are graduating to Modular and Integrated forms of building.
  • In the Move department, we are not where I'd like to be. We are a couple steps short in developing Propulsion solutions in-country. But we have progressed in the dept. of integrating propulsion (engines) with the other ship systems (gearboxes, driveshafts, IPMS etc.)
  • The Fight department is a concern. We've made fair progress with systems like BrahMos and Varunastra. But not much otherwise - this is where IN requires the participation of local industry (state-run and/or private) to take this dept. forward.
Regarding the future acquisitions coming up for the IN, on the Surface dept.:-

  • Next Generation Destroyers (Project-18??)
  • Next Generation Corvettes (NGC)
  • Missile Vessels (NGMV)
  • Fleet Support Ships
  • IAC-2...which would probably be the biggest project of Navy provided we get the clearances
The Air Dept. :-

Does not talk about any specific project but states that significant progress has been made indigenously regarding development of mechanical systems & avionics, including Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ship datalinks.

The Underwater dept.:-

  • We are in the midst of inducting the Scorpene submarines, to be commissioned very shortly.
  • We have programs for building more conventional submarines & a very ambitious plan for our strategic (nuclear) submarines
  • Plans for Special Operating Vessels which should fall into place soon (is he talking about SDVs or something else?)
  • DSRV project should fructify by May 2018
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