From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 10: “Indian Navy is facing huge challenges from the threat of non-State actors entering the Indian sea,’’ Indian Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan said in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Admiral R L Pereira Memorial Lecture, organised by Bangalore chapter of the Navy Foundation, which was delivered by Stanford varsity Emeritus, Professor Arogyaswami Paulraj, here, Admiral Dhowan said Indian Navy had already been operating in such an environment to ensure all aspects of coastal security and surveillance.

The Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dhowan said the incidents like the vessels allegedly carrying explosives for a possible terror attack on India near the Gujarat Coast recently, will be ably tackled by the Indian Navy and other forces.

“Despite the recent incident, we are already operating in an environment where we have to ensure all aspects of coastal security and surveillance. It is being carried out under NC-3I program...the national command and surveillance systems and intelligent systems,’’ he said.

India has a vast 7516 km coastline and a huge economic zone of two million sq km, Admiral Dhowan said pointing out that there were nearly 5000 merchant ships and over 2.4 lakh fishing boats operating in the area.

The NC-3I is to take care of this situation and ensure safety,' Admiral Dhowan said.

The Admiral said all measures to leverage technology to keep the Indian coast line safe were being taken. Since last few months, we are on high state-of-alert and have deployed Navy units, ships, aircraft and UAVs in the country's coastal areas,' he said.

Admiral Dhowan said Indian Ocean region had emerged as the world's 'centre of gravity' in maritime domain. It was the third largest water body with 2.6 billion population and 66 per cent of oil, 50 per cent of container and 33 per cent of cargo traffic being carried out in the region, Admiral Dhowan said.

“The threat perception in Indian Ocean region is wide and varied. There is threat of asymmetric warfare and other maritime threats that could emanate from the region for the country,’’ he said.

“There are already nearly 120 warships here from 25 Navies. India is fully concerned and is ready to defend its seas,” he said.

He said in such a scenario in the Indian Ocean and the progress made by Indian economy, its maritime interest is likely to grow exponentially.

Protecting the country's interests rests on the Indian Navy and it was ready to provide full security whether be it during peace or during wartime.

“Indian Navy will ensure safe and secure sea for the country to help the nation progress,'’ he said.

Admiral Dhowan said the morale among Indian Navy men and women was very high and there was no constraint in resources for upgradation.The Indian Navy is progressing with its acquisition program as per its maritime capability perspective plans for 15 years till 2027.

“We are progressing in a satisfactory manner and have enough resources,’’ he said.

On the 'Make in India' message given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Admiral Dhowan said Indian Navy had already emerged as a 'builder navy' from the earlier 'buyer navy' and the process had begun as long as 50 years ago.

“We have 41 warships and submarines under constructions and each and every such vessel is being produced in the Indian shipyards and none on foreign docks,'’ he said.

The Naval Chief said there had been major changes in composition of naval aircraft. The MIG 29K had been inducted and operated from INS Vikramaditya since last year and the Navy was flying the aircraft with its own pilots and on its own qualified flying structures.

It had also inducted six long range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft and two more were coming.

“These aircraft have enhanced our capability of surveillance of large areas of Indian Ocean region.

"In addition we have also inducted trainer aircraft,” he added.