Form of words:
New Delhi: As China belts out one warship after another, making it the largest naval force in the world, Indian Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar on Friday said that “it is not just about numbers” as he underlined the importance of strategy and experience.
The newly-appointed Navy Chief sought to allay fears of the growing might of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), saying that the Indian Navy is a well-balanced force to safeguard the country’s maritime interests.
Noting that the situation on the northern borders with China added to the existing challenges, the admiral said that during the crisis last year, Indian Navy ships were “further deployed” on mission-based deployments, while other ships “The case was kept ready.” The situation escalated”.
ThePrint informed of last July The Indian Navy had deployed a large number of ships under Eastern and Western Naval Commands in the Indian Ocean region to send a clear “message” to China in the wake of the Galwan Valley conflict and escalating tensions.
Addressing his annual press conference on the eve of Navy Day, the Admiral said, “We kept their ships under close surveillance, which we continue to do.” He said that the Navy has good knowledge of the maritime domain.
‘Not just about numbers’
Talking about the scale of development of PLAN, the Navy Chief said that China has built 138 ships in the last 10 years and added that every country deserves its share of capacity development.
“It’s not just about the numbers… it’s the people behind it, how you exploit the weapons you have, your strategy, your operational plan, all that effort you can tolerate at a particular point in time. There are so many issues,” he said.
The Admiral said India has commissioned 28 warships in the last seven years.
As informed of Previously by ThePrint, Planning beats the Indian Navy by a huge margin when it comes to the number of ships and the speed at which they are being built.
NS report good On China’s military capabilities, the US Department of Defense notes that the PLAN has the largest navy in the world, with an overall combat force of approximately 355 ships and submarines, including more than 145 major surface combatants.
Incidentally, China is all set to launch its third plane. the carrier, which will have catapult technology for take-off instead of the traditional ski jump-style, even as India debates whether there should be a third aircraft carrier. It is estimated that China may end the operation of six aircraft the carrier By 2030, only a decade before the first commission.
ICDP to fix naval numbers
The Navy chief stressed on the ongoing process of coming up with a 10-year Integrated Capability Development Plan or ICDP, as ThePrint shows. informed of Will serve as the foundation for the procurement plans of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
As per the ongoing Maritime Capability Perspective Plan, the Indian Navy plans to become a 170-ship strong force by 2020, which is actually a climb from the original target of 200.
The Navy Chief said the figure of 170 is not fixed and the final number under the ICDP could be more or less.
Speaking on the need for a third aircraft carrier, Admiral Kumar said there has to be a balance and it will never be a question of submarines or carriers.
Explaining the need for balance, the Navy Chief said that while an aircraft carrier brings with it the power to strike, conduct long range surveillance and protect naval assets, submarine is for maritime denial and stealth. He said that ICDP will strike a balance as per the requirement.
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