Indian Navy News & Discussions

[X_Killer]

India may agree to buy Japanese US-2i aircraft for $1.3 bn

India may finally agree to buy the Japanese ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft in a deal worth $1.30 billion for the Navy during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during September 13-14.

The deal, it seems, got finalised during a meeting between former Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera during September 5-6 in Tokyo, sources told BusinessLine.

According to sources, Jaitley’s meeting with Onodera had been “fruitful” in the backdrop of Japan sweetening the deal by offering 10-15 per cent discount on each of the plan that cost over $100 million.

India plans to buy 12 of this search-and-rescue (SAR) maritime surveillance aircraft which the Indian Navy plans to deploy strategically at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the objective of carrying out patrols in the larger Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

However, the deal has been stuck for over seven years now due to the high cost of the planes. According to the agreed plan, the Ministry of Defence will be buying 12 planes off the shelf. Subsequently, at a later stage the government will be procuring 18 more that will be built in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

Next phase

“Building the plane here will be next phase of the deal. As of now the focus is on procuring the 12 planes in fly-away condition.

“This is because having a platform is an absolute necessity for the Navy. And there are few suppliers for this kind of an aircraft. This will be a great asset in protecting our interest in the IOR,” said an official, involved in the deal.

The deal, talks for which began around 2010, got a major boost when the Abe government decided to lift the ban on exporting Japanese arms to the world in April 2014.

Following this, during the last annual India-Japan Annual Summit in December 2015, both Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to expedite the US-2i programme.

“Defence cooperation with Japan remains a priority for us. I cannot prejudge what the outcome will be on US-2i during this visit because the outcome is under works now,” said Pranay Verma, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs.

According to the joint statement that was issued post Jaitley’s visit to Japan, progress had been made in the field of defence equipment and technology cooperation including in the framework of the Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation as well as regarding the cooperation on US-2 amphibious aircraft.

Rahul Gangal, Partner (Aerospace and Defence), Roland Berger, said: “While cost is one of the factors, there is also a strategic need to acquire these planes. I believe the deal should be expeditiously signed.”

 

[RISING SUN]

Rs 2500 cr Indian Navy 4 vessel project bagged by Garden Reach Shipbuilders
Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), under the ministry of defence, has emerged as the lowest bidder with Rs 2,500-crore bid for four vessels for the Indian Navy. GRSE became the L1 bidder beating infra major Larsen & Toubro. “The bids for the programme were opened on Monday for four vessels which are for the hydrographic branch of the Indian Navy. These vessels are expected to be designed in-house,” sources told Fe. The engines for the vessels are most likely to be imported, they further added. GRSE’s bid of Rs 520 crore for each vessel bettered L&T’s quote of Rs 742 crore, which was almost 43% higher.

The other shipyards who had responded to the RFP in 2015 were Hindustan Shipyard Rs 563 crore per vessel, Goa Shipyard Rs 568 crore, Cochin Shipyard Rs 573 crore and Shoft Shipyard Rs 670 crore.

GRSE will deliver the first vessel three years after the deal is signed and the rest of the vessels subsequently every one year thereafter.

Senior officers told Fe, “The plan is to completely revamp the hydrographic branch. Apart from meeting its own requirements, the navy also helps the friendly neighbouring countries in carrying out hydrographic surveys which are critical for maritime operations.”

The survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for mapping. It is a type of research vessel. The basic task of survey vessels is to map the bottom, benthic zone, full water column and surface for the purpose of hydrography, general oceanography, marine habitats, salvage, dredging and marine archaeology.

The Indian Navy already has a fleet of 10 research and survey vessels in service in three different class namely: Sagardhwani Class (2 vessels), Sandhayak Class (7 vessels) and Makar Class (1 vessel).

These vessels undertake surveys of maritime limits up to EEZ/extended continental shelf and collection of oceanographic and geophysical data for defence applications.

In a secondary role, the Navy had specified that the ships should be able to perform limited defence roles in an emergency (suitable arrangements for installation of CRN 91 gun with optronic pedestal or as indicated by the Indian Navy), limited search and rescue capability, limited ocean research capability and hospital ship/casualty holding ship.

The ships are required to have single hull construction with welded steel, endurance of 6,500 nm at economical speed (14-16 knots), a maximum speed of 18 knots and cruising speed of 16 knots. The navy has also stipulated that the ships should be capable of operating one single-engine rotary wing aircraft, retractable hangar for the full stowage of the aircraft.
http://www.financialexpress.com/ind...t-bagged-by-garden-reach-shipbuilders/852507/

Royal Navy Ship HMS Monmouth on five-day visit to Goa
A Royal Navy ship, HMS Monmouth, Type 23 Class is on a five-day visit to Goa since September 11, the Indian Navy official has said. The ship will be in Goa till September 15. “The UK Naval ship is a Guided Missile Frigate commanded by Commander Ian D Feasey. The ship is currently berthed at Mormugao Port Trust,” the naval spokesman said.

The 133 m ship is manned by 212 personnel including 28 officers, 177 sailors and 7 civilians. “The ship’s last port of call was Bahrain. The Commanding Officer of the ship Feasey called on Rear Admiral Puneet Bahl, Flag Officer Commanding Goa Naval Area on September 11 and discussed various bilateral issues,” the spokesman said.

The various activities planned during the visit include friendly sports fixtures between mixed teams of Goa Naval Area and Royal Navy and mutual professional interaction and familiarisation visits. A passage exercise between INS Gomati and RNS Monmouth is also scheduled to be held on September 15 to develop interoperability and foster navy to navy relationship.
http://www.financialexpress.com/ind...hms-monmouth-on-five-day-visit-to-goa/851692/

India's second indigenous nuclear submarine to be launched soon
India's second indigenous nuclear submarine is likely to be launched in less than a month's time, towards the end of September or the beginning of October, government sources said.

Launching of a boat refers to the process of transferring the vessel to the water from a dry dock. Once launched, the boat will undergo extensive sea trials before it is inducted in the Indian Navy some time in 2019.

The launch is likely to be done by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in keeping with the tradition that a boat is launched by a woman. The first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, was launched in 2009 by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur.

INS Arihant was quietly inducted in the Indian Navy in August 2016. It was the first nuclear attack submarine built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Being built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, the second boat, Aridhaman, will have double the number of missile hatches than its predecessor. It will also be powered by a more powerful reactor than INS Arihant's 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor.

Aridhaman will have a seven-blade propeller powered by a pressurised water reactor and can achieve speed upto 12-15 knots on surface and 24 knots under water.

It has eight vertical launch tubes and can carry up to 24 indegenously-developed K-15 (Sagarika) missiles or eight K-4 missiles. The K-15 has a range of 750 km while the K-4 has a range of 3,500 km.

INS Arihant has four vertical launch tubes and can carry 12 K-15 missiles or four K-4 missiles.

The K-4 missile was developed as the Agni-III missile could not be deployed on INS Arihant due to space constraints. IANS

http://www.sundayguardianlive.com/n...indigenous-nuclear-submarine-be-launched-soon

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/two-warships-conclude-visit-to-ina/article19677193.ece
KANNUR, September 13, 2017 19:17 IST
Updated: September 13, 2017 19:17 IST

Two frontline warships of the Western fleet, INS Mysore and INS Gomati, anchored off the Ettikkulam bay here on their maiden visit to the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala concluded their visit on Wednesday.

The warships which anchored off the bay on September 11 were here for three days when naval cadets of the INA got an opportunity to go on board the vessels and experience practical aspects of seamanship and navigation as also organisational and functional aspects of various departments and participate in seamanship, navigation and weaponry evolution, said a press release of the INA on Wednesday.

The Commanding Officers of the warships and crew were taken on a guided tour of the academic faculties and laboratories, warship simulator, weapon training centre, sail training centre, firing range, sports facilities, equitation training centre and other facilities at the INA, the release said adding that trainee midshipmen who are in their terminal stages of training got an opportunity to interact with the crew of the ships.
https://defence.pk/pdf/#world-affairs-forum.188
INS Mysore, a guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in June 1999. The vessel is also equipped with an array of weapons and sensors which include surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns and torpedo and anti-submarine rocket launchers.

INS Gomati is the third of the indigenously built Godavari class guided missile frigate and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in April 1988.

 

[hassamun]

Defence ministry blocks Navy’s ‘unrealistic’ five-year acquisition plan

The plan has been sent back for pruning, because it would double India’s defence budget. Top Navy officials meet new minister Sitharaman to brief her.

An elaborate plan drawn up by the Indian Navy to acquire new warships, aircraft, submarines and special equipment over the next five years has met with disapproval from the defence ministry. Officials have termed it ‘unrealistic’, given projected national growth and spending power.

The five-year plan, which was submitted earlier this year by Navy HQ to the defence ministry, would have ended up more than doubling the Indian defence budget for capital acquisition, which currently stands at Rs 86,529 crore.

Sources told ThePrint that the plan – which includes acquisition of new aircraft carrier-borne fighter jets – is unlikely to be cleared in the current form, as it would put a great burden on the exchequer, and would leave little money for the Army and the Air Force, which too have major acquisition projects coming up. This is why the Navy has been asked to alter the plan

India presently spends 12.2 per cent of its annual budget on the defence forces, excluding a pension bill that has increased rapidly after the implementation of the One Rank One Pension policy. In the current financial year, the pension bill has, in fact, surpassed money allocated for capital acquisitions of the armed forces.

New minister, new hope

Sources said the Navy’s top brass briefed defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the five-year plan in her first few days in office, with a request for clearances.

Another plan, to build a new aircraft carrier named Vishal, has also been moved again. This plan had been nixed by previous defence minister Manohar Parrikar last year, because it had been deemed too expensive. The project is estimated to cost a whopping Rs 1.35 lakh crore at the approval stage, a projection that is likely to go up with time.

India already has a joint working group with the US for this aircraft carrier, and the Navy wants to try its luck with the new minister.

Other major acquisitions

The Navy has several other major acquisitions coming up, the biggest being the plan to make six new conventionally-powered submarines under the Project 75I plan, which is expected to cost over Rs 60,000 crore.

Besides this, the Navy plans to acquire 57 new fighter jets for operation on the existing INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, and the INS Vikrant, which is currently under construction in Kochi.

In addition, the procurement process for new landing platform docks, minesweepers, shallow water craft and frigates is ongoing.

https://theprint.in/2017/09/13/defence-ministry-blocks-navys-unrealistic-five-year-acquisition-plan/

 

[#hydra#]

Defence ministry blocks Navy’s ‘unrealistic’ five-year acquisition plan

The plan has been sent back for pruning, because it would double India’s defence budget. Top Navy officials meet new minister Sitharaman to brief her.

An elaborate plan drawn up by the Indian Navy to acquire new warships, aircraft, submarines and special equipment over the next five years has met with disapproval from the defence ministry. Officials have termed it ‘unrealistic’, given projected national growth and spending power.

The five-year plan, which was submitted earlier this year by Navy HQ to the defence ministry, would have ended up more than doubling the Indian defence budget for capital acquisition, which currently stands at Rs 86,529 crore.

Sources told ThePrint that the plan – which includes acquisition of new aircraft carrier-borne fighter jets – is unlikely to be cleared in the current form, as it would put a great burden on the exchequer, and would leave little money for the Army and the Air Force, which too have major acquisition projects coming up. This is why the Navy has been asked to alter the plan

India presently spends 12.2 per cent of its annual budget on the defence forces, excluding a pension bill that has increased rapidly after the implementation of the One Rank One Pension policy. In the current financial year, the pension bill has, in fact, surpassed money allocated for capital acquisitions of the armed forces.

New minister, new hope

Sources said the Navy’s top brass briefed defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the five-year plan in her first few days in office, with a request for clearances.

Another plan, to build a new aircraft carrier named Vishal, has also been moved again. This plan had been nixed by previous defence minister Manohar Parrikar last year, because it had been deemed too expensive. The project is estimated to cost a whopping Rs 1.35 lakh crore at the approval stage, a projection that is likely to go up with time.

India already has a joint working group with the US for this aircraft carrier, and the Navy wants to try its luck with the new minister.

Other major acquisitions

The Navy has several other major acquisitions coming up, the biggest being the plan to make six new conventionally-powered submarines under the Project 75I plan, which is expected to cost over Rs 60,000 crore.

Besides this, the Navy plans to acquire 57 new fighter jets for operation on the existing INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, and the INS Vikrant, which is currently under construction in Kochi.

In addition, the procurement process for new landing platform docks, minesweepers, shallow water craft and frigates is ongoing.

https://theprint.in/2017/09/13/defence-ministry-blocks-navys-unrealistic-five-year-acquisition-plan/

And mod is expecting our navy to check planavy in our backyard.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
18-September, 2017 16:36 IST
ANC Evacuation of Tourists from Havelock

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been experiencing heavy rains and resultant rough/very rough seas since 13 Sep 17. On 17 Sep, a message was received from Civil Administration that due to a defect in the hull, the return trip for tourists from Havelock by civil ferry MAKRUZZ had been cancelled. It was also intimated that a number of passengers, who had their flights scheduled for the morning of 18 Sep, were stranded and required to be brought to Port Blair. As the Civil ferries do not ply at night to Havelock, Andaman and Nicobar Command had been approached for ferrying the stranded tourists.

Two ships of the Naval Component, INS Bangaram and INS Battimalv (Fast Attack Craft class) were sailed for the mission despite torrential rains and very rough weather. 24 civilian tourists (10 ladies, 10 men and four children) were embarked onboard INS Bangaram at Havelock and ferried to Port Blair. Additionally, 54 Officers from Defence Services Staff College, who are on a visit to the islands and stranded due to cancellation of MAKRUZZ, were also embarked on the ships. Thus a total of 78 stranded personnel were ferried back to Port Blair on the two ships. In the traditional role of support to civil authorities, the tourists were given accommodation inside the ship as the sea state was very bad and were also served with refreshments.

On arrival in Port Blair, at about 2230 hrs, the tourists were provided a Naval transport to their places of stay in Port Blair. The prompt action by the ANC and the help extended by the ships was highly appreciated by the stranded tourists.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Navy’s patrol aircraft TU 142M, which is set to become a museum, gets finishing touches near the Kursura Submarine Museum (in the background) in Visakhapatnam. It will be thrown open to the public on September 27. Photo: K.R. Deepak

 

[RISING SUN]

Keel for two tugs laid at HSL
The keel-laying ceremony of two 10-tonne bollard pull tugs -- Abhishek and Avtar -- out of six being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited for Indian Navy was performed at a simple function here on Saturday.

The keel for the tugs was laid by senior workmen in the presence of Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral L.V. Sarat Babu, senior officials of the Navy, classification society and others.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-pape...-for-two-tugs-laid-at-hsl/article19702368.ece

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
20-September, 2017 15:11 IST
Visit of admiral Tin Aung San, Commander in Chief, Myanmar Navy to India

Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Navy, is currently on a visit to India from 18 to 21 September 2017. The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance bilateral defence relations between India and Myanmar. The Admiral visited various Naval establishments at Mumbai and Kochi as part of his itinerary prior arriving New Delhi where he is scheduled to call on the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff. The Admiral will also hold discussions with various dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence at New Delhi.

Naval cooperation between India and Myanmar has been traditionally strong, encompassing a wide span which includes operational interactions through Coordinated Parols, Training, Port Calls, Passage Exercises along with Capacity Building and Capability Augmentation initiatives. During the recent visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to Myanmar in early September 17, three MoUs with respect to maritime cooperation were signed between both countries. The visit of the Admiral also closely follows the recent visit of the Commander in Chief, Myanmar Defence Forces in August 2017 and is reflective of the growing level of cooperation between both Navies.

The Commander-in-Chief, Myanmar Navy, Admiral Tin Aung San meeting the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, in New Delhi on September 20, 2017.

 

[RISING SUN]

SNC launches `Operation Madad'
Following the request put forward by Kerala disaster management authority (KDMA), Southern Naval Command (SNC) here is on high alert to face any emergency situation arising due to heavy rains in the state. KDMA has sent a request for help and assistance to the Indian Navy following heavy rains leading to landslides and flooding of houses across the state on Sunday .SNC in response to the request launched "Operation Madad" on Sunday itself.
"The Op-Madad has been executed by the SNC with effect from Sunday particularly since Kerala is expected to encounter wet weather for the next few days. As part of the operation, a relief operation centre (ROC) has been set up at joint operations centre (JOC) at Naval Base, Kochi. Flood relief materials, including boats and diving teams, have been kept standby to meet any emergent requirement at short notice," said the Navy . Furthermore, the Navy has also readied their ships and aircraft to act on short notice in order to render any assistance to civil populace and fishermen in case an emergency situation arises.

Early on Monday , the navy received a communication from the Coastal police at Munakkakadavu regarding a fishing boat `Sanamol' which was stuck 35 nautical miles off the Kochi shore near Thrissur. There were 10 people on board the boat which had suffered engine failure and flooding caused by ingress of water.

In response to the communication, the Navy dispatched an advanced light helicopter (ALH) for an immediate search and rescue (SAR) operation at 6am. Following which the Navy dispatched the Indian Naval Ship `Kabra' at 7am to provide necessary assistance to the fishing boat and its crew.

"The ship remained in the area ensuring safety of the crew onboard `Sanamol' till the boat was towed to safety by another boat. Both the boats have reached Munakkakadavu safely and the ship has returned to Kochi," informed the Navy.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/snc-launches-operation-madad/articleshow/60741991.cms

 

[X_Killer]

Inside INA (Indian Naval Academy) Documentary

English:

Hindi

 

[Hindustani78]

Indian Navy’s first Scorpene-class submarine is seen after being undocked from Mazagon Docks in Mumbai in 2015. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-takes-delivery-of-scorpene-submarine/article19729883.ece

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) of Mumbai on Thursday handed over the first of the Scorpene submarines, Kalvari, to the Navy. This is the Navy’s first new conventional submarine in two decades.

“The state-of-the-art technology utilised in the Scorpene has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low-radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimised shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons,” MDL said.

MDL is constructing six Scorpene submarines with technology transfer from Naval Group, formerly DCNS of France.

 

[RISING SUN]

Indian Navy offered Sea Ceptor air defense weapon system to replacing aging Israeli Barak-1
Senior MBDA official confirmed to Indian media that, MBDA in response to Request for Information (RFI) issued by Indian Navy earlier this year has offered its ” Sea Ceptor ” which is next-generation, ship-based, all-weather, air defense weapon system. As per RFI issued by Indian Navy, Navy wants to purchase 10 short-range surface-to-air missile systems to replace its aging Israeli Barak-1 air defense systems. Sea Ceptor can be easily retrofitted into a wide range of platforms, ranging from 50m OPVs to frigates and destroyers and is the principal air defense capability for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 and Type 26 frigates. 99kgs Sea Ceptor Missile has Mach 3 Speed and comes with a range of 25km and provides 360° coverage in all launch sectors and Two-way data link between the missile and launcher.
https://idrw.org/indian-navy-offere...on-system-to-replacing-aging-israeli-barak-1/

 

[Hindustani78]

VISAKHAPATNAM, September 21, 2017 23:54 IST
Updated: September 21, 2017 23:54 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...t-naval-dockyard-in-vizag/article19730417.ece

Two employees suffered chemical burns in an explosion at the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning unit at Naval Dockyard under Malkapuram police station limits here on Thursday.

The injured identified as 25-year-old Baishnab Charan Chand and 26-year-old Parthasarathi Das, are undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital here, where their condition is said to be out of danger.

Sources said the incident took place around 10 a.m. when the duo was engaged in some painting work at the unit.

As per the reports, the duo had taken a can from the scrap to mix the paints by removing some semi-solid material from the can. They then had dumped the removed material in a waste bin and due to some chemical reaction with some material already present in the waste bin, an explosion took place.

 

[RISING SUN]

Indian Navy ships Satpura, Kadmatt in Vietnam
In pursuance of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, Eastern Fleet ships INS Satpura and Kadmatt are on a 5-day port visit to Hai Phong, Vietnam from Saturday.

The visit of these ships commemorates the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India, the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between both countries and also the ‘25 years of Dialogue Partnership’ between India and ASEAN.

During the ships’ stay at Hai Phong, the Commanding Officers will call on the Commander-in-Chief of the VPN and several other high ranking officers from the VPN and the Hai Phong People’s Committee. They will also participate in a Maritime Business Meeting. Personnel from the VPN, Vietnam Border Guard and the Hai Phong People’s Committee are scheduled to visit the Indian ships for familiarisation. The ships will play a friendly sports fixtures with VPN personnel. The ships will also take part in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with ships of the VPN on their departure from Hai Phong.

India has been engaging Vietnam on economic, defence, cultural, scientific and technological issues. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between both countries encompasses information sharing, exchange visits by personnel, ships and aircraft, cooperation in defence industry as also cooperation in defence science, technology and research. Not only is defence cooperation a significant pillar of this comprehensive strategic partnership, but further, relations between the Indian Navy and the Vietnamese People’s Navy are the cornerstone of the defence relationship between both countries.

Visiting Naval technical teams have supported VPN ships by carrying out repairs in Vietnam. Apart from this, a MoU also exists between both countries for repair and refit of VPN ships and submarines. The Composite Training Programme (CTP) envisages training of nearly 500 VPN personnel in operating and maintaining ships, submarines, and aircraft. The Indian Navy is training aviation and medical personnel from the VPN in Vietnam itself. Training for repairs and maintenance is also scheduled to commence in November 2017. Indian Naval instructors have been deputed to the VPN Naval Academy at Nha Trang since December 2008.

The information sharing agreement between both countries is very robust and contributes to seamless domain awareness across diverse ocean areas. In addition, a technical agreement on sharing white shipping information was operationalised in April 2017.

India is also assisting Vietnam in establishing a Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) chain in Vietnam, which will greatly enhance coastal surveillance and contribute to overall security. The VPN has been a regular participant in India’s MILAN series of multilateral exercises since 2006 and has also been invited for the 2018 edition.
https://telanganatoday.com/indian-navy-ships-satpura-kadmatt-vietnam