SP's Naval Forces - October-November 2023

Issue Features

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  LEAD STORY
  Unseen & Unheard: The Role of Stealth
  By Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla (Retd)

  Evolving Submarine Stealth Technologies ensure a Lethal Silence for the Sentinels of the Deep

• 

  SUBMARINE / MODERNISATION
  Ageing Submarine Fleet Raises Security Concerns
  By Ranjit Kumar

  Slow progress in Indian Navy’s ambitious Submarine fleet expansion with delays in induction and decommissioning of ships poses significant challenges in policing the vast Indian Ocean Maritime Zone and countering PLA (Navy) threats

• 

  CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER / LAUNCH
  Chinese Fujian Heads Towards Blue Waters
  By Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla (Retd)

  China’s Fujian aircraft carrier, equipped with cutting-edge electromagnetic catapults, prepares for sea trials, marking a milestone in the nation’s naval capabilities

• 

  BILATERAL / INDIA-ITALY
  New Chapter in India-Italy Defence Ties
  By Ranjit Kumar

  Charting a fresh course, India and Italy embark on a new era of defence collaboration

• 

  BILATERAL / INDIA-FRANCE
  India-France Discuss Rafale-M and Scorpene Deals
  By Ranjit Kumar

  The recent visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to France has elevated Indo-French defence relations to the next level

• 

  SUBMARINE / TECHNOLOGY
  Navantia’s AIP Successfully Performs Factory Acceptance Tests
  By SP’s Correspondent

  Navantia’s AIP BEST is redefining Submarine capabilities for a stealthier future

• 

  NAVAL SURVEILLANCE / BOEING P-8I
  P-8I by Boeing: A Fabulous Past and A Promising Future
  By Neetu Dhulia

  As the Indian Navy’s demand for more P-8I aircraft grows, Boeing company, manufacturer of the P-8I, is fervently stepping up to meet this need

• 

  WEAPON SYSTEMS / ROSOBORONEXPORT
  Rosoboronexport Exhibited Cutting-edge Naval Equipment and Weapons at the 2023 International Maritime Defence Show
  

  Rosoboronexport held meetings with delegations from many partner countries and they were given presentations on Russian products of the domestic shipbuilding sector, coastal defence systems and naval weapons

• 

  NEWS
  IAI salutes the IDF on the successful interception of a long-range ballistic missile
  

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) salutes the IDF on the successful interception of a long-range ballistic missile by the “Arrow” missile defence system.

• NEWS
  Defence Minister releases fifth Positive Indigenisation List
  

  To promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and innovation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released of the fifth Positive Indigenisation List of Department of Military Affairs (DMA) comprising 98 items.

• NEWS
  Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) – 2023 Concludes
  

  The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) was hosted by the Indian Navy from October 29–31, 2023 under the aegis of the Naval War College, Goa.

• NEWS
  Launch of DSC A 21 (Yard 326)
  

  The launch of ‘DSC A 21’, the second ship of 05 x Diving Support Craft (DSC) project, being built by Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), Kolkata for Indian Navy, was undertaken on October 30, 2023 at Titagarh, Kolkata (WB)...

• NEWS
  Launch of 25T Bollard Pull Tug ‘Mahabali’
  

  25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug, ‘Mahabali’ was launched by Cmde Sunil Kaushik, WPS(Mbi) on October 28, 2023 at Shoft Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Bharuch, Gujarat.

• NEWS
  Launch of third ACTCM Barge
  

  Third Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 17 (Yard 127) was launched by Cmde V. Pravin, AWPS (Mbi) on October 27, 2023 at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane.

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  NEWS
  Third Project 15B Indigenous Destroyer Imphal Delivered
  

  Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20, 2023.

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  NEWS
  Indian Navy Bids Farewell to IL-38 SD
  

  The Indian Navy’s Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft bid farewell after 46 years of glorious service to the nation.

• NEWS
  Delivery of Second MCA Barge, LSAM 8 (Yard 76)
  

  Contract for construction and delivery of 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge was concluded in consonance with “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government of India.

• 

  NEWS
  Mid Life Upgrade and Re-Powering of INS Beas
  

  The Ministry of Defence signed a contract on October 16, 2023, in New Delhi for Mid Life Upgrade and Re-Powering of “INS Beas” with Kochi-based Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at an overall cost of Rs. 313.42 crore.

• 

  NEWS
  Maiden India-Indonesia-Australia Trilateral Maritime Exercise
  

  Indian Navy’s indigenously built warship INS Sahyadri, mission deployed in Indo-Pacific, participated in the maiden trilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise with the ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy from September 20–21, 2023.

• 

  NEWS
  Appointments
  

  Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff on October 1, 2023.
  Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as Chief of Personnel on October 6, 2023.

• 

  Editorial
  By Jayant Baranwal, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

  India’s submarine fleet faces a pressing challenge in operational capability, owing to a lackadaisical approach towards indigenous modernisation efforts.