bobbybabu007
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China's maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region are considerably influenced by its perception of the Indian Navy which is the only regional maritime force believed to be capable enough to counter the Chinese thrust effectively in the Indian Ocean.
By all accounts, the trajectory of the Indian Navy's development has been sharp. After acquiring top-of-the-line ships and submarines in recent years - including its latest aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy is set to spend 3,00,000 crores (over US$600 billion) in further augmenting its capabilities over the next two decades. These include airborne maritime surveillance assets, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Not wanting to be confined to its near regions, the Indian Navy now recognizes the need to project power. It plans to arm the INS Chakra (an Akula class submarine from Russia) and INS Arihant, the indigenously produced nuclear powered submarine, with ballistic missiles. Recent developments suggest that the Indian Navy, which is constructing seven indigenous frigates at Mumbai and Kolkata, will also undertake the development of expeditionary warfare assets.
The first of these will be three indigenously manufactured landing platform docks. Plans have also been drawn up for the acquisition of six new conventional submarines with air independent propulsion and cruise missile capability. Two fleet tankers have been acquired from Italy to give the Indian Navy the "long legs" that are critical for long-range operational deployments. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy's quest to emerge as a global and regional sea power will receive a major boost with New Delhi and Moscow in negotiations for the purchase of three additional frigates, reportedly of the superlative Krivak IV class.
Increasingly, the navy has being seeking to build assets and fortify strategic defenses. The past six months have seen the Indian Navy commission a new nuclear submarine, a stealth frigate, an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron and a strategic base in the Lakshadweep islands on its Western Seaboard. While INS Dweeprakshak, the new base, has primarily been established for combating piracy, its use will probably not be limited to policing for pirate boats, but also extend to long-term strategic maritime activity.
Reportedly, India is also due to soon start the process of turning the Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay - a small outpost on the southern-most tip of the Andaman Nicobar Islands - into a full-fledged "forward operating base". Campbell Bay (commissioned this month and rechristened Naval Air Station Baaz) overlooks the Six Degree Channel, a vital shipping lane for global traffic, and is crucial in observing the Malacca Strait and the Bay of Bengal. As a part of the air station's upgrade, infrastructure and facilities will be improved substantially to enable operations by heavier aircraft, including refuelling, maintenance and repair.
Significantly, the Indian Navy, in 2011, candidly acknowledged that it was in the process of setting up operational turnaround and forward operating bases along the Indian coast with a view to enhancing surveillance efforts in the region. The new "strategic outposts" will enable, not just better operational vigilance, but also greater maritime reach and presence.
The freshly inducted Shivalik and Teg class ships are another manifestation of the navy's desire to acquire strategic assets. INS Sahyadri inducted last week, and INS Teg, inducted in May this year, are the two latest multi-purpose frigates to have joined the navy's arsenal in the past two years. Geared to undertake a broad spectrum of maritime missions, the new inductions are not just for "tactical war-fighting", but also enable "strategic posturing" and long-term maritime missions.
With its influence in the Indian Ocean Region growing, the Indian Navy now aspires for true "blue-water" status. India's naval planners are aware that, ultimately, acquiring dominant maritime power status entails technological self-sufficiency and a readiness to accept a leadership role in providing the public good of maritime security.
By all accounts, the trajectory of the Indian Navy's development has been sharp. After acquiring top-of-the-line ships and submarines in recent years - including its latest aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy is set to spend 3,00,000 crores (over US$600 billion) in further augmenting its capabilities over the next two decades. These include airborne maritime surveillance assets, shore-based and carrier-based aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Not wanting to be confined to its near regions, the Indian Navy now recognizes the need to project power. It plans to arm the INS Chakra (an Akula class submarine from Russia) and INS Arihant, the indigenously produced nuclear powered submarine, with ballistic missiles. Recent developments suggest that the Indian Navy, which is constructing seven indigenous frigates at Mumbai and Kolkata, will also undertake the development of expeditionary warfare assets.
The first of these will be three indigenously manufactured landing platform docks. Plans have also been drawn up for the acquisition of six new conventional submarines with air independent propulsion and cruise missile capability. Two fleet tankers have been acquired from Italy to give the Indian Navy the "long legs" that are critical for long-range operational deployments. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy's quest to emerge as a global and regional sea power will receive a major boost with New Delhi and Moscow in negotiations for the purchase of three additional frigates, reportedly of the superlative Krivak IV class.
Increasingly, the navy has being seeking to build assets and fortify strategic defenses. The past six months have seen the Indian Navy commission a new nuclear submarine, a stealth frigate, an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron and a strategic base in the Lakshadweep islands on its Western Seaboard. While INS Dweeprakshak, the new base, has primarily been established for combating piracy, its use will probably not be limited to policing for pirate boats, but also extend to long-term strategic maritime activity.
Reportedly, India is also due to soon start the process of turning the Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay - a small outpost on the southern-most tip of the Andaman Nicobar Islands - into a full-fledged "forward operating base". Campbell Bay (commissioned this month and rechristened Naval Air Station Baaz) overlooks the Six Degree Channel, a vital shipping lane for global traffic, and is crucial in observing the Malacca Strait and the Bay of Bengal. As a part of the air station's upgrade, infrastructure and facilities will be improved substantially to enable operations by heavier aircraft, including refuelling, maintenance and repair.
Significantly, the Indian Navy, in 2011, candidly acknowledged that it was in the process of setting up operational turnaround and forward operating bases along the Indian coast with a view to enhancing surveillance efforts in the region. The new "strategic outposts" will enable, not just better operational vigilance, but also greater maritime reach and presence.
The freshly inducted Shivalik and Teg class ships are another manifestation of the navy's desire to acquire strategic assets. INS Sahyadri inducted last week, and INS Teg, inducted in May this year, are the two latest multi-purpose frigates to have joined the navy's arsenal in the past two years. Geared to undertake a broad spectrum of maritime missions, the new inductions are not just for "tactical war-fighting", but also enable "strategic posturing" and long-term maritime missions.
With its influence in the Indian Ocean Region growing, the Indian Navy now aspires for true "blue-water" status. India's naval planners are aware that, ultimately, acquiring dominant maritime power status entails technological self-sufficiency and a readiness to accept a leadership role in providing the public good of maritime security.
