Indian Navy Acquiring Seaguardians, And More

CHENNAI. The Indian Navy is moving forward towards fulfilling some of its ambitious plans including for manned and unmanned systems.

- Gulshan Luthra and Shweta Sehgal

Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar told India Strategic on the sidelines of a seminar that a tri-Service process for acquiring Predator drones from the US General Atomics was in motion and that while he could not speak for the Army or Indian Air Force, the Navy was firm on getting 10 SeaGuardians. Other aircraft in the Navy’s sight are an additional number of Boeing P8-I Long Range Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (LRMR) as well as deck-based combat jets from whoever can supply them.

The Navy had initially planned for 22 SeaGuardians, but then the other two Services jumped in and indications are that they have also put in requirements for 10 each in discussions with the Ministry of Defence.

Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar said that the Navy, as well as the other Services periodically update and revise their requirements to mix and match the capabilities coming from various assets, and that helps maintain a balance in the required strength and numbers.

The Vice Chief was here to inaugurate a seminar on India and the Indian Ocean: Dynamics of Geopolitics, Security and Global Commons organized by The Peninsula Foundation, where he pointed out that India juts a thousand nautical miles in the Indian Ocean, and with two island territories of Andaman & Nicobar in the East and Lakshadweep and Minicoy to the West, “our EZ (economic zone) totals 2.02 sq km. That is a huge responsibility for the Indian Navy.