In the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, the entire maritime and coastal security mechanism was subjected to a major overhaul. This incident led to circumstances which necessitated a much larger mandate for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). To fulfill the enhanced roles and responsibilities, the ICG required renewed synergy towards capacity building along with augmentation of matching infrastructure and manpower. Additionally, the increasing incidents of piracy, poaching, drugs and arms pedaling closer to the Indian coastlines, have added a new dimension to the coastal and offshore security imperatives.

Transformation Post-26/11

The use of the sea route by terrorists in 2008 highlighted the vulnerability of our coastline and the pressing need for a coordinated approach to maritime security by all the stakeholders and users of the sea. The Coast Guard has been active in analysing, proposing and obtaining the government clearance on the many measures for enhancing coastal security. There has been increased focus on enhancing awareness of the maritime domain and patrolling in territorial waters by all concerned agencies, with specific emphasis on the following vital aspects:

• Coastal surveillance network (CSN) with radar, electro-optic sensors, marine small target tracker, molecular electronic transducers (MET) sensors, very high frequency (VHF) sets and automatic identification system (AIS) feed from national AIS chain to be implemented.
• Promulgation of standard operating procedures for coastal security for all coastal states and union territories.
• Deputing ICG personnel for joint manning of Joint Operations Centres.
• Functioning of coastal police stations in “hub and spoke” concept with Coast Guard stations for information outflow.
• Recommendations for fitment of transponders for fishing vessels and other craft less than 20 metres.
• Joint Indian Navy-Coast Guard team identifying suitable radio frequency identification (RFID) for installation on fishing boats.
• Conducting 36 coastal security exercises and 28 coastal security operations to validate coastal security mechanism.
• Conducting ab initio training of Marine Police personnel by the Coast Guard.
• Community interaction programmes to interact regularly with the coastal fishing populace with a view to sensitise them and act as “eyes and ears” for any illegal activity.

Force Levels

To meet the onerous responsibilities, ICG faced a challenge to acquire potent force levels, that too in the shortest of time frame. An ambitious force levels augmentation plan and the processes to acquire it had to be fine-tuned and put in place. Prominent operational assets required for coastal security apparatus are fast attack crafts, interceptor crafts, offshore patrol vessels, inshore patrol vessels, maritime surveillance aircraft, helicopters and a chain of coastal radars.

In December 2008, the ICG had a fleet strength of six air cushioned vessels, 44 ships, 19 boats and 45 aircraft for coastal surveillance and security roles. In early 2009, to immediately strengthen the force levels, the government sanctioned additional ships, boats and aircraft. The ICG has since commissioned 11 ships, viz. two new generation 93-metre offshore patrol vessels (OPV) “Vishwast” and “Vijit”, the first pollution response vessel “Samudra Prahari”, a 105-meter OPV “Samrat” and seven interceptor boats. Six more interceptor boats have since joined the fleet.

More than a 100 state-of-the-art surface platforms are currently under construction in both public and private shipyards. By 2018, ICG is expected to achieve an effective strength of about 200 surface platforms which will certainly enhance the surveillance capabilities of the ICG.

The air arm of ICG is also growing from strength to strength. The major acquisition plan includes additional Dornier and Chetak aircraft, multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft, twin-engine light helicopters and twin-engine heavy helicopters. Thus the effective air assets strength is expected to reach 100 aircraft by 2018. Considering the urgent need to quickly strengthen the transport and aerial surveillance capability, ICG came up with an innovative programme to dry-lease helicopters for a period of three to five years. While the dry lease bid called for 12 helicopters, the bidders have been sounded out that the requirement could go up to 30 helicopters. This programme has got off the ground on the expected lines with Sikorsky, OSS Air and Indocopter enthusiastically submitting their bids. However, the bid acceptance date had to be extended as the Indian Government-owned helicopter operator, Pawan Hans, had sought time to submit its bid. However, till the last date for bid submission which was the end of June 2011, only three bids were received. While Sikorsky has pitched S-76 choppers, OSS Air has offered the AgustaWestland A-109 and Indocopter, the Indian maintenance partner of Eurocopter, has offered a Eurocopter machine. The evaluation process was to extend over three months and the winner is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

This procurement is being closely watched as its success would set the trend for future leasing of helicopters by other wings of the Indian defence forces. Generally, Indian forces prefer outright purchase but protracted delays in procurement have opened up the lease option. An earlier plan to lease eight helicopters had been cancelled by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2010, on grounds that the lease was too expensive.

In addition, ICG has floated a global tender worth over $200 million ( Rs. 1,000 crore) to procure 16 light utility helicopters (LUH) to be deployed on its ships for extensive coastal surveillance within the domain of its assigned operational responsibility. The global request for proposal (RFP) for procurement of 16 LUH was issued a couple of months ago and the qualified participants were asked to submit their bids by the end of the current year.

According to the RFP, the ICG wants these helicopters to be equipped with surveillance devices to carry out search and rescue roles in coastal areas. Accordingly, the RFP was served on leading global helicopter manufacturers, namely the Eurocopter, AgustaWestland and Sikorsky. Eurocopter has plans to field its versatile twin-engine Panther helicopter. The procurement is part of ICG’s efforts to enhance its capabilities to tackle terrorism and other threats emanating from the sea. Deployment of the helicopters on offshore patrol vessels and other large-size ships of the ICG will help in expanding its reach in the maritime zone to locate suspicious boats and other vessels. The choppers will also have light and medium machine guns on board.