Fully supporting self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Indian Navy continues to propel the domestic industry's growth, something that has far-reaching strategic consequences. In Part 3 of an extensive interview with Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP's ShowNews, Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, gave a comprehensive overview of the current and future plans of the Indian Navy.
Jayant Baranwal: Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and South China Sea (SCS)
Ghormade: Indian Navy (IN) is fully prepared to safeguard the maritime interests of the nation. The country's maritime interests encompass maintenance of the territorial integrity of India against seaward challenges, as well as, protection of our maritime trade and the merchantmen that embody it. Our coastline today faces significant security challenges from malevolent non-state and state-sponsored anti-national elements. To safeguard the maritime interests of the nation, the IN performs four types of roles namely military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign. For these roles, we have adequate capability and are also continuously evolving to meet any new challenges.
(b) Do we possess similar strength when it comes to SCS? Kindly advise?
Ghormade: IN is continuously evolving to meet the emerging security threats and challenges to our maritime interests. With well laid out longterm planning, the Navy has been able to keep pace with the developing security situation in the region. We are confident that we will be able to deter and if required, defeat any force well before it can be in a position to threaten our shores. We are constantly fine-tuning our concept of operations and acquisition plans to cater for developing threats in our areas of interest.
Jayant Baranwal: The requirements projected by you would require to be adequately funded by the Government. What is the annual increase in capital funding that you are looking at to meet the requirements of the Naval force levels projected by the Indian Navy?
Ghormade: The allocation of Budget to the Navy has been adequate to meet the requirements/capacity building initiatives. Any shortfalls have been made good with additional allocations at RE/MA stages. Further, a conservative 10 per cent Year on Year growth w.r.t. BE 2022-23, under Capital Budget, would result in adequate fiscal space for Indian Navy to progress envisaged Modernisation plans.
Jayant Baranwal: To conclude this interview and this interesting interaction, we would like to ask you what all are the plans of Indian Navy towards the larger objective of indigenisation being pushed by Government of India?
Ghormade: Indian Navy has always been at the forefront of promoting the 'Make in India' initiative of the Government, with close to 63 per cent of contracts, by value, being concluded with/accorded to Indian vendors, in the last three years. In order to reduce arms dependency and promote indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment, a comprehensively revamped 'Make and Innovation' procedure has been introduced in DAP-20 to facilitate indigenous design and development of defence equipment by private participation, both with government funding and Industry funding.
As on date, out of 45 ships/submarines under construction, 43 are being built in India. Also, AoN exists for 49 ships and 6 submarines, all to be constructed indigenously which would strengthen our ecosystem. Further, in keeping with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative of GoI, and achieving self-reliance in all defence related projects, all new IN ships being constructed in India are being fitted with indigenous weapons and sensors. Further, all foreign origin weapons, sensors and propulsion systems of older platforms are being progressively replaced with indigenous systems during the mid-life upgradation refits. The spares of all foreign origin equipment are also being progressively indigenised.
Indian Navy is also part of major flagship schemes of Government of India, viz, 'Make in India', 'Technology Development Fund (TDF)' and 'Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX)'. Among the major Government initiatives, following have been progressed by the Indian Navy till date:
For full interview, please refer to SP's Naval Forces Issue 5/2022; www.spsnavalforces.com