Indian Navy operates subsurface, surface and in the air with the state of art inventory which includes hi-tech complex platforms like aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and fighter aircrafts which mandates the requirement of highly trained and skilled personnel. Thus an exclusive interview with FOC-in-C, Southern Naval (Training) Command, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla in this issue. The Admiral lists out the training priorities for fighting contemporary hybrid wars and preparing for the future. He said that Navy will be making a beginning with electric propulsion, which is regarded as a big technological leap. The first batch of B.Tech qualified officers passed out of the Naval Academy in May 2019 and now are posted on warships. This was one of the key result areas of the Navy to match the march of technology. Other innovative ideas are to have its own ‘Top Gun School’, outsourcing a part of training, and focusing on training in niche technologies like deep learning, machine learning, big data analytics, space based surveillance and many more.

The other exciting news is the response to build six attack submarines in collaboration with a Foreign OEM under a $6.3 billion programme Project 75(I) have been received. The Expression of Interest (EoI) was issued in June this year and replies opened on September 7, 2019. Read all about in this issue.

There is also an interview with Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Naval Group India Private Ltd (previously DCNS India Pvt Ltd) Rear Admiral R.K. Shrawat (Retd) who is former CMD of the state-owned MDL, India’s only submarine manufacturer. He stated that apart from offering HWT Torpedo F21 and future advanced submarines, Naval Group is interested in supporting the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) 2, which is at the design stage, LPD and other future naval platforms with high military requirements and performances. The Group is committed to the Indian Navy and Indian Government for ‘Make in India’ approach of doing business.

Wish you all discerning readers Happy Dussehra, Diwali and reading!