Presenting a well detailed overall view of the Indian Navy during his pre-Navy Day (December 4, 2018) interaction with the media, the Navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, shared significant inputs about the Navy’s current and future acquisitions. The contract for procurement of 12 Dornier aircraft was signed with HAL (Kanpur) on December 29, 2016 with delivery commencing on January 2019. The vessel will join the Coast Guard fleet in May 2019 after extensive tests and trials. The acquisition is being appropriately planned in a phased manner to enable capacity building with focus on consolidation. The SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major structural rivets defence platforms by an Indian strategic partner, who will collaborate with a foreign OEM to set up production facilities in the country. The 105 m long vessel with a capacity of accommodating 242 personnel is powered by twin diesel engines of 10,400 KW and can move at a speed of 20 knots. The Indian Navy’s website defines its four roles — military, diplomatic, The Indian Navy’s third Scorpene-class submarine Karanj is pulled into the Arabian Sea after its launch ceremony at the Mazagon Dock Shipyard in Mumbai. The aircraft would enhance the Maritime Domain Awareness of the Indian Navy through round the clock sensor-based surveillance and provide targeting data in areas of operation to ward off terror and other threats from sea.

The writer, a retired Army officer, is a defence and security analyst based in This approval is the second such project following indigenous production of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters that was approved in August 2018.Seven ship acquisition contracts for 51 ships/boats were signed during the last four years. It is expected to acquire 50 new vessels and around 40 aircraft in the next four years. Construction of six submarines under Project 75(I) will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing ecosystem in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as the necessary skills.As per the Indian Navy’s maritime capability and its perspective plans, the current strength of 150 ships/submarines and 250 aircraft is aimed to be increased to 200 ships/submarines and 500 aircraft.The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in a recent landmark decision approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over `40,000 crore.On the naval aviation front, a long standing critical shortfall in the naval helicopter fleet has been finally addressed with the accord of AoN for 111 utility helicopters in August 2018 and issue of LOR (letter of request) for 24 multi role helicopters in November 2018. The induction of Vikrant will provide a significant fillip to the Navy’s blue water capability, increasing the reach and impact of carrier-borne strike forces, both as a means of deterrence as well as during combat operations.