Indian Navy commanders will this week discuss the country’s maritime security and review the naval force’s mission-based deployments in the Indian Ocean Region, amid increasing Chinese activities in the strategic waters.
Steps taken to improve combat efficiency, including the new transition cycle for ships from maintenance period through a training phase and thereon to full-scale operations, will be examined at the first edition of the bi-annual conference.
The conference starts on May 8 and will conclude on May 11, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The commanders would discuss the optimal utilisation of the Navy’s share of the defence budget by prioritising capital acquisitions and modernisation plans to bridge critical capability gaps.
They would also deliberate on improving the Teeth-to-Tail ratio and explore niche fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics.
Harnessing cutting-edge technologies, specifically those ‘Made in India’ would be a key focus during the conference.
“The new deployment philosophy, in furtherance of the prime minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), aims at sustained, peaceful and yet responsive presence of Indian naval ships in critical areas and choke points,” the statement read.
The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to India’s strategic interests. Over the years, the region has witnessed increasing Chinese presence.
China increased its presence in the Indian Ocean Region by constructing the deep-sea Gwadar Port in southern Pakistan and a naval base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. The region also has Chinese ships deployed for anti-piracy operations.
The Indian Navy’s focus over the past year has been on combat efficiency and materiel readiness, and upkeep of its fleet of 131 ships and submarines.
Measures to ensure safety, continued training, and checks and balances on crew proficiency aboard its front-line warships will also be reviewed, according to the statement.
An overhaul of the training standards of units by revamping the ‘Ship Operating Standards (SHOPS)’ is underway.
The new SHOPS, set to be unveiled soon, focuses on role-based training and sets standards to be met by units as also targets individual crew proficiency levels.
Twenty-seven ships and submarines are currently under construction in Indian shipyards, including the first indigenous aircraft carrier ‘Vikrant’.
The Navy promulgated the ‘Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan 2015-30’. This allows the industry to formulate strategies to meet the requirements of the Navy via the new Strategic Partnership Model, and research and development.
These initiatives, aimed at enhancing indigenous defence industrial capability extending up to the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), shall also be discussed.
The conference would be addressed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the inaugural session followed by discussions with officials of the Defence Ministry.
Source : business-standard
