Navy aims to become self-reliant by 2047: Chief Admiral Kumar

‘MISSION ATMANIRBHAR’

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy is contemplating whether to go for indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) II or prefer a repeat order for the IAC I, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday while setting a timeline of 2047 for making his force ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant).

Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar said the proposed procurement of a fleet of Predator drones from the US is under process and that the Navy is on course for a major capability enhancement to deal with myriad security challenges.

The Chief of Naval Staff also said an exercise is underway in the force to shed the colonial past as “we strongly support the view that we have to get away from this “Ghulami ki mansikta” (slave mentality).

On modernisation of the Navy, he said assurances have been given to the government that the force will become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) by 2047 and several measures are being initiated to meet the target.

He also said the Navy keeps a strong vigil over movements of various Chinese military and research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region.

“We are still working on what size it should be and what its capabilities should be. Right now, we have put a hold on it because we have just commissioned INS Vikrant. We are quite happy with the way the ship performed in the trial,” Admiral Kumar said when asked about the IAC II.

The Navy has been making a strong push for having the IAC-II having a displacement of 65,000 tonnes.

India’s first indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (IAC I) was commissioned in September. The aircraft carrier, with a displacement of 40,000 tonnes, was built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore.