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Pointing out that status quo ante had been restored after the three-week Chinese incursion in Ladakh, Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Saturday said that India has right to develop infrastructure, facilities and capabilities on its own land.
Our Army and Air Force are developing their capabilities in border areas only on our own land and this process will continue, he said while replying to questions at a press conference at the Naval Air Base in Goa after he commissioned the Navys MiG-29K combat jet squadron.
Mr. Antony said that India has well established procedures to sort out issues with its neighbours. His obvious reference was to the April 15 Chinese incursion in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Ladakh that ended after several rounds of flag meetings between local Army commanders and negotiations with Beijing at the diplomatic level.
As China has right to improve infrastructure and other facilities in its border areas, India also has right to develop its capabilities and infrastructure in the border areas on its own land, he asserted.
Reiterating that India would protect its national interests, including vital sea lanes which were becoming increasingly important for carrying on trade and commerce, Mr. Antony said that economic development depended on a secure environment. We are supporting the Navy so that it can meet all challenges successfully. The Indian Navy will see a new age of more inductions in the years to come. It will protect the national interest in Indian ocean and elsewhere, he added. Without naming any adversary, Mr. Antony asserted that India will do everything to safeguard our national interests.
He announced that indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), being constructed at Cochin Shipyard, would be launched for outfitting on August 12. The 45,000-tonne aircraft carriers construction began in 2009 and after completing the undersea work like hull and propellers, it would be launched for outfitting on and above the deck. The first IAC is likely to be commissioned in 2017 after extensive sea trials that are expected to begin in 2016.
On a question about Russia, Mr. Antony said that Russia has been the most trusted partner not only in defence but in other key areas also with the relationship going back to several decades.
The Defence Minister said that the countrys armed forces were in the process of acquiring several new platforms and equipment to further strengthen their capabilities and preparedness.
Pointing out that sea lanes were lifelines for any nation, Mr. Antony said that security environment around India was changing rapidly, more so in the oceans. He said that acquisition of new techniques and training were crucial to enhance Indias defence preparedness.
Terming the commissioning of the MiG-29K squadron INAS 303 as red letter day for the Navy, Mr. Antony said that the latest squadron would operate from INS Vikramaditya, formerly Admiral Gorshkov, aircraft carrier that would be delivered later this year.
Naval aviation is all set to get more teeth with the new and capable aircraft joining its fleet. Nearly 20 MiG-29K aircraft have been inducted in the Indian Navys air arm and the squadron was formally commissioned by Mr. Antony at INS Hansa, marking the diamond jubilee of Naval aviation. Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi and top Navy officials were present at the ceremony that also saw an impressive fly past by Navys fighters and surveillance aircraft.
The latest squadron would form the fighter complement of INS Vikramaditya, the second aircraft carrier. Additional MiG-29K aircraft have been contracted and would form the complement of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 which is under construction in Kochi shipyard. Ever since decommissioning of INS Vikrant in 1997, INS Viraat with its integral air arm of Sea Harriers, Sea Kings and Chetaks has been central to fleet operations till date.
The Naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was under development and was being progressed towards ski-jump trials at the shored based test facility, being developed at Goa. The LCA (Navy) together with the MiG-29K would form the main carrier borne fight component of the Navy in the near future.
Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft have also been contracted to take over the training role from the Kiran aircraft and deliveries of these would also start this year, Navy officials said.
Over the past few years the Naval air arm has grown from a modest force to a mini Air Force and has about 220 aircraft, 1300 officers and 9000 men. From its early days of having a single air station, it has now grown to encompass eight air stations. Future inductions will see our present naval aircraft inventory increase substantially, transforming the Naval Aviation into a potent multi-dimensional networked force that will be a decision instrument of maritime power, Navy officials said.
Navys long range maritime patrol capabilities will also get a boost with the induction of the first Boeing P8-1 aircraft this year, making the Indian Navy only the second operator of this aircraft after the U.S. Navy. Coastal surveillance capabilities are also being increased with additional UAVs which have been integrated with fleet operations and can be controlled by fleet ships.
India has every right to build defence infrastructure: Antony - The Hindu
Our Army and Air Force are developing their capabilities in border areas only on our own land and this process will continue, he said while replying to questions at a press conference at the Naval Air Base in Goa after he commissioned the Navys MiG-29K combat jet squadron.
Mr. Antony said that India has well established procedures to sort out issues with its neighbours. His obvious reference was to the April 15 Chinese incursion in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Ladakh that ended after several rounds of flag meetings between local Army commanders and negotiations with Beijing at the diplomatic level.
As China has right to improve infrastructure and other facilities in its border areas, India also has right to develop its capabilities and infrastructure in the border areas on its own land, he asserted.
Reiterating that India would protect its national interests, including vital sea lanes which were becoming increasingly important for carrying on trade and commerce, Mr. Antony said that economic development depended on a secure environment. We are supporting the Navy so that it can meet all challenges successfully. The Indian Navy will see a new age of more inductions in the years to come. It will protect the national interest in Indian ocean and elsewhere, he added. Without naming any adversary, Mr. Antony asserted that India will do everything to safeguard our national interests.
He announced that indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), being constructed at Cochin Shipyard, would be launched for outfitting on August 12. The 45,000-tonne aircraft carriers construction began in 2009 and after completing the undersea work like hull and propellers, it would be launched for outfitting on and above the deck. The first IAC is likely to be commissioned in 2017 after extensive sea trials that are expected to begin in 2016.
On a question about Russia, Mr. Antony said that Russia has been the most trusted partner not only in defence but in other key areas also with the relationship going back to several decades.
The Defence Minister said that the countrys armed forces were in the process of acquiring several new platforms and equipment to further strengthen their capabilities and preparedness.
Pointing out that sea lanes were lifelines for any nation, Mr. Antony said that security environment around India was changing rapidly, more so in the oceans. He said that acquisition of new techniques and training were crucial to enhance Indias defence preparedness.
Terming the commissioning of the MiG-29K squadron INAS 303 as red letter day for the Navy, Mr. Antony said that the latest squadron would operate from INS Vikramaditya, formerly Admiral Gorshkov, aircraft carrier that would be delivered later this year.
Naval aviation is all set to get more teeth with the new and capable aircraft joining its fleet. Nearly 20 MiG-29K aircraft have been inducted in the Indian Navys air arm and the squadron was formally commissioned by Mr. Antony at INS Hansa, marking the diamond jubilee of Naval aviation. Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi and top Navy officials were present at the ceremony that also saw an impressive fly past by Navys fighters and surveillance aircraft.
The latest squadron would form the fighter complement of INS Vikramaditya, the second aircraft carrier. Additional MiG-29K aircraft have been contracted and would form the complement of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1 which is under construction in Kochi shipyard. Ever since decommissioning of INS Vikrant in 1997, INS Viraat with its integral air arm of Sea Harriers, Sea Kings and Chetaks has been central to fleet operations till date.
The Naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was under development and was being progressed towards ski-jump trials at the shored based test facility, being developed at Goa. The LCA (Navy) together with the MiG-29K would form the main carrier borne fight component of the Navy in the near future.
Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft have also been contracted to take over the training role from the Kiran aircraft and deliveries of these would also start this year, Navy officials said.
Over the past few years the Naval air arm has grown from a modest force to a mini Air Force and has about 220 aircraft, 1300 officers and 9000 men. From its early days of having a single air station, it has now grown to encompass eight air stations. Future inductions will see our present naval aircraft inventory increase substantially, transforming the Naval Aviation into a potent multi-dimensional networked force that will be a decision instrument of maritime power, Navy officials said.
Navys long range maritime patrol capabilities will also get a boost with the induction of the first Boeing P8-1 aircraft this year, making the Indian Navy only the second operator of this aircraft after the U.S. Navy. Coastal surveillance capabilities are also being increased with additional UAVs which have been integrated with fleet operations and can be controlled by fleet ships.
India has every right to build defence infrastructure: Antony - The Hindu
