INDIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEFS ON OUR RELENTLESS AND FOCUSED PUBLISHING EFFORTS

The insightful articles, inspiring narrations and analytical perspectives presented by the Editorial Team, establish an alluring connect with the reader. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications.

— General Upendra Dwivedi, Indian Army Chief

"Over the past 60 years, the growth of SP Guide Publications has mirrored the rising stature of Indian Navy. Its well-researched and informative magazines on Defence and Aerospace sector have served to shape an educated opinion of our military personnel, policy makers and the public alike. I wish SP's Publication team continued success, fair winds and following seas in all future endeavour!"

— Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Indian Navy Chief

Since, its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has consistently demonstrated commitment to high-quality journalism in the aerospace and defence sectors, earning a well-deserved reputation as Asia's largest media house in this domain. I wish SP Guide Publications continued success in its pursuit of excellence.

— Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Indian Air Force Chief
       
EXCLUSIVE

“Indian Navy is Committed of Becoming an ‘Atmanirbhar’ Force by 2047”

On the occasion of Indian Navy Day, in a comprehensive interview to Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP’s Naval Forces, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, shares his vision for the Indian Navy and gives his insights into the evolving landscape of Navy’s strategies, combat preparedness, and modernisation

Issue: 6/2024 Photo(s): By Indian Navy, PIB, indiannavy / X
Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff has the vision of a strong and capable Navy for realising the dream of becoming a developed nation ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047

SP’s Naval Forces (SP’s): As the Chief of the Naval Staff of one of the most sophisticated and the most professional Navies in the world, what will be your vision?

  1. Towards the build-up of combat power,
  2. Towards sustainability and boosting process of your human resource,
  3. Towards the overall role for the country and beyond?

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): As the principal manifestation of India’s maritime power, the primary role of Indian Navy is to deter war and in case deterrence fails, to win it decisively. The contemporary security environment demands that we must also be prepared to prevail in daily contestation and competition, while leveraging cooperation and collaboration towards common good. I intend to continue the efforts of my predecessors towards ensuring that the Indian Navy remains a Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force. Towards this we aim to induct capabilities across all the five domains that the Navy seamlessly operates in, that is space, air, surface, sub-subsurface and cyber.

Indian Navy is modernising its capabilities in accordance with perspective plans to realise a suitable force mix to meet all envisaged missions in the Areas of Interest. The future expansion plan includes induction of state-of-the-art Next Generation warships, nuclear powered and conventional submarines, aviation and sub-surface assets, augmentation of autonomous solutions to enhance combat capabilities, and induction of niche technology and equipment to address emergent threats and future challenges.

“Indian Navy remains a Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force. Towards this we aim to induct capabilities across all the five domains that the Navy seamlessly operates in, that is space, air, surface, sub-subsurface and cyber.”

Knowing that a well-knit and motivated force is crucial to fulfilling our mandate, we aim to foster an environment that supports holistic professional and personal development of our workforce, strengthening organisational excellence and enhancing individual skills. We are laying emphasis on high-quality professional training conducted under realistic combat conditions to enhance competence and capability. Through personnel-centric policies coupled with administrative reforms, we aim to retain our well trained and motivated human capital, and inspire continued service in the Indian Navy. To attract the brightest minds and best talent, the Indian Navy has developed a comprehensive three-pronged strategy focussing on building the Navy’s brand image, outreach to our potential candidates and facilitating recruitment through ease of procedures. Our recruitment strategies are adapted to the needs and aspirations of the younger generation, and focussed on enhancing awareness and providing pathways for a rewarding career in the Navy.

Combined operations of INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant

India’s GDP by some estimates, could surpass $26 trillion mark by 2047 - a nearly eight-fold increase from today. It is clear, that an export-based economy will be a prime mover for achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Vast volumes of our exports and imports, inevitably, will be facilitated by the seas. With 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 68 per cent by value currently being sea-borne, and only set to grow to meet the markers I highlighted, free access to ports and secure sea lanes will remain critical to our economic well-being. An aspiring India needs a strong and capable navy for realising the dream of becoming a developed nation – ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. To sustain the same, Navy aims to build a well-balanced multi-dimensional networked force that is capable of delivering ordnance on target and effects across the spectrum of conflict. While doing so, we also aim to achieve self-reliance. The Indian Navy has made an unequivocal commitment of becoming an Atmanirbhar Force by 2047. This would not only help us achieve selfreliance in Defence, but also stimulate our economic growth towards nation building for a Viksit Bharat @2047.

SP’s: Can you please share the wish-list of our Navy for next five years and next 10 years?

CNS: In the rapidly evolving geo-strategic, geo-political and geo-economic landscape of world affairs, it is becoming increasingly apparent that India’s role and involvement is expanding substantially. As India grows in stature and capability to achieve its rightful place in the comity of nations, it is axiomatic that the scale and scope of national security challenges will also increase concomitantly. In overcoming these challenges, a well-equipped, technologically-enabled, efficiently-supported, modern and Large Navy will remain a critical instrument of national power.

“Project P-75(I) is in line with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ to acquire national competence in submarine construction and enable the Indian industry to independently design and construct submarines”

Towards the same, the Navy aims to build a well-balanced multi-dimensional networked force that is capable of delivering ordnance on target and effects across the spectrum of conflict. We aim to induct capabilities across all the five domains that the Navy seamlessly operates in:

  • Space: Space based ISR capabilities, for enhancing MDA and battle-space transparency.
  • Air: Shore based as well as integral naval aviation assets to undertake maritime surveillance, Fleet air defence, maritime and shore strike, ASW, special operations, SAR, intelligence gathering and Fleet logistics/communications. Broadly, we are looking at platforms like Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters (TEDBF), Deck Based Multi-Role Helicopters (DBMRH) and long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft including unmanned and autonomous platforms with optimum Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT).
  • On the Surface: The ability to project force across our frontiers. Credible blue water capabilities through optimum mix of Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs), next generation destroyers, precision long range seaborne attack vectors, credible land attack capability and expeditionary platforms, amongst many others.
  • Sub-Surface: To ensure credible deterrence, an optimum mix of conventional submarines and nuclear-powered SSNs to provide adequate sea denial capability. SSBNs will continue to constitute the most potent and reliable component of our nuclear triad.
  • Cyber: Sharp offensive and robust defensive cyber capabilities that can act as a force multiplier across all other domains.

While doing so, we also aim to achieve self-reliance. The Indian Navy has made an unequivocal commitment of becoming an Atmanirbhar Force by 2047.

SP’s: May we request for status update on P-75(I) requirement of our Navy?

CNS: Project-75(I) is the first project to be steered under the prestigious Strategic Partnership model introduced by the Government of India. The project envisages construction of six indigenous state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion or AIP equipped conventional submarines with enhanced combat capabilities. The aim of Project P-75(I) is in line with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ to acquire national competence in submarine construction and enable the Indian industry to independently design and construct submarines.

INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth guided missile frigate

The submarines constructed under this Project would provide us a definite combat edge in the underwater battle space. These submarines would be entirely constructed in Indian Shipyards (with Transfer of Technology), progressively achieving higher level of indigenous content including indigenous weapons, communication, navigation suite as well as the Command and Weapon Control System (CWCS). The Project is envisaged to ensure future, logistics support and undertaking Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of submarines in Indian Shipyards through manufacture of submarine equipment and systems through the Indian industry. The Project besides ensuring early induction of the submarines would also provide unique long-term opportunities and planning certainty for Indian industry, to invest and support submarine construction and sustainment activities over the next 30 years, whilst creating a large number of direct and indirect job opportunities in India. The project also offers the prospect of creating an MRO hub in India for such submarines operated by friends and partner nations in the region as well as creates potential for future export orders in the Asia-Pacific region.

SP’s: As part of the QUAD, India has become part of the IPMDA. Could you explain the Indian Navy’s role in this initiative and the benefits it will accrue?

CNS: Indo-Pacific Partnership on Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) is an initiative under the umbrella of QUAD for enhancing regional maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific region. The IPMDA initiative for the IOR is planned to be implemented through the IFC-IOR at Gurugram. India, through IFC-IOR would be sharing maritime security related information and collated MDA picture with regional partners towards more effective surveillance against threats in the region to ensure Security And Growth for All in the Region.

“As far as Aircraft Carriers are concerned, they are central to the Indian Navy’s concept of operations. A Carrier Battle Group, centred on an Aircraft Carrier, is a means of projecting maritime power at sea.”

SP’s: The China is pursuing aircraft carriers programme fairly aggressively. Fujian aircraft carrier, currently under trials, with a full load displacement of 85,000 tonnes is being perceived as the largest and the most advanced carrier. How do you perceive these developments? Are these of any concern to us? Should India be pursuing acquiring such a formidable capability under its fleet?

CNS: Indian Navy is well aware of development plans of Chinese Aircraft Carriers and their capability. All such programmes are monitored very closely and continuously. The Indian Navy is fully prepared to safeguard the maritime interests of the nation and tackle maritime security challenges promptly and effectively. We have credible capability and are continuously evolving to meet the new challenges. We are constantly fine-tuning our concept of operations and formulate our capability perspective plans to cater for developing threats.

Towards capability development, our perspective plan envisages induction of Carrier Battle Groups, state-of-the-art Next Generation warships, nuclear powered and conventional submarines, revitalisation of aviation and sub-surface assets, augmentation of autonomous solutions to enhance combat capabilities, and induction of niche technology and equipment to address emergent threats and future challenges.

“The Indian Navy is fully prepared to safeguard the maritime interests of the nation and tackle maritime security challenges promptly and effectively”

As far as Aircraft Carriers are concerned, they are central to the Indian Navy’s concept of operations. A Carrier Battle Group, centred on an Aircraft Carrier, is a means of projecting maritime power at sea. It is a self-contained and composite force, capable of undertaking a wide range of operational tasks which no other platform can undertake. The ship and its airwing - fighters and helicopters - constitute a war-fighting system that has inherent flexibility as well as mobility, and can be rapidly re-deployed based on emerging scenarios. These factors have prompted all major Navies in the world to invest in Aircraft Carriers and utilise this critical capability to achieve their desired objectives – both at sea and ashore.

Aircraft carrier has, therefore, clearly emerged as a necessity for our nation, as was also highlighted by the Standing Committee on Defence (SCOD) in its 36th Report of 17th Lok Sabha.