(PTI)
New Delhi, Oct 26: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday asked the Navy to remain “ever ready” to counter any challenge in the wake of recent developments in India’s neighbourhood, seen as a clear reference to China’s growing maritime presence in the critical sea lanes.
In an address at the on-going Navy commanders’ conference, she also took note of the critical capability shortfalls the Navy was facing in ship-borne multi-role helicopters, conventional submarines and minesweepers which are required urgently to maintain its combat edge.
The minister assured the commanders that that these issues were being given due impetus and efforts were in hand to mitigate these shortcomings at the earliest, Navy Spokesperson Capt D K Sharma said. He said the commanders also reviewed the Navy’s readiness to deploy over the entire range of missions in the maritime domain.
In her address, Sitharaman talked about the challenges India was facing in the maritime domain and complimented the Navy for its high operational readiness. “Taking note of the recent developments in our maritime neighbourhood, she emphasised the need for the Indian Navy to be strong at sea, and be ever ready and vigilant to counter any challenges in the maritime domain,” Capt Sharma said.
Official sources said China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), its fresh military deployments in the geo-politically sensitive South China Sea and efforts to increase its overall dominance were discussed at the four- day-long conclave which began on Tuesday.
Sitharaman acknowledged the high operational tempo maintained by the Navy in the last one year through regular deployment of ships, submarines and aircraft from the South China Sea and Sea of Japan in the East to the Persian Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean in the West.
She also complimented the force for its sustained efforts to deter piracy attempts off the Gulf of Aden. Wednesday, the naval commanders had cleared a new plan for deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean region to effectively counter China’s growing assertiveness in the strategically key region. The “new mission-based deployment” plan involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications, Navy sources said.
