New Delhi:

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi on Monday expressed concerns about Pakistan getting equipment and weapon support from China saying it is very surprising how an economy that is “faltering and begging” for international assistance could muster the funds for armed forces’ modernisation.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Indian Navy Chief said they are keeping track of what is happening in the Pakistan Navy.

“I think more than a cause of concern, it is very surprising as to how an economy which is faltering and begging for international assistance could muster the funds for ensuring that their armed forces are modernised. We are keeping track of what is happening in the Pakistan Navy. What kind of weapons and platforms they are getting from various sources and we have got a strategy in place to ensure that maritime security in the region and our national maritime interests are not compromised,” Indian Navy Chief Admiral told ANI.

He was asked about Pakistan getting equipment and weapon support from China.

“As far as China is concerned, you are fully aware that it has become the largest navy in terms of numbers. That also we are keeping a track,” he added.

He further said that 63 ships are being constructed in Indian shipyards, which include Defence Public Sector Undertakings DPSUs, PSUs, as also private industries like L&T.

“The 17 Bravo ships are very capable 7000-8000 tonne frigates… As per our long-term integrated perspective plan, we are supposed to have 24 frigates so these 7 new stealth frigates will add muscle to that capability,” he said.

The Indian Navy Chief asserted that by 2047 Indian Navy will be a full ‘Atmanirbhar’ force.

“Indian Navy will be a full ‘Atmanirbhar’ force by 2047. I don’t think any further platforms from surface to sub-surface will be acquired from abroad. They will all be made in India… At the Naval headquarters, we have commissioned two task forces under a two-star rank officer who are now going into the industry and learning about the kind of technology we can imbibe to plug the gaps we are successful to a certain extent. I am looking at the next few months with great hope,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Khordha (Odisha):

Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi praised the Agniveer scheme during the passing out parade of the fourth batch of Agniveers in Odisha, stating that the initiative is progressing well.

Admiral Tripathi noted that over 2,500 Agniveers have completed their training in the first three batches.

“I was the Chief of Personnel in 2022 when the Agnipath scheme was introduced. Now, two years later, we have just seen the fourth batch pass out on Friday from our premier training establishment, INS Chilka. The scheme is going well. We have trained more than 2,500 Agniveers in the first three batches,” Tripathi said on Friday.

“This batch includes nearly 1,429 Agniveers, with around 300 of them being women. I have observed the Agniveers here at Chilka during the first batch, seen them on ships, and again today. I see great hope in them — they are highly motivated, enthusiastic, and I am confident they are fully integrated into the Indian Navy,” he added.

The passing out parade (POP) of the fourth batch of Agniveers was held on Friday at INS Chilka, the Indian Navy’s premier training establishment in Odisha.

The POP not only marked the successful completion of 16 weeks of initial Naval training for the Agniveers but also signaled the beginning of their journey in the Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Ready Indian Navy.

The training at Chilka encompassed academic instruction, various aspects of naval service, and outdoor training, all grounded in the core values of duty, honor, and courage.

The Agnipath scheme, announced by the government in June 2022, is designed to promote a youthful profile within the Armed Forces. Those recruited under the scheme are known as ‘Agniveers.’

The government has stated that there will be numerous job opportunities and other avenues for those not retained in the defense forces after four years.

Upon completion of their four-year tenure, approximately 25 percent of the Agniveers will be retained in the Indian Armed Forces as regular cadres for a minimum of 15 years. The remaining Agniveers will receive assistance for further employment opportunities. They will be given a Seva Nidhi Package of Rs 11.71 lakhs upon their exit, which will be exempt from Income Tax. However, there will be no pension benefits.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Indian Navy will take “affirmative action” to ensure a safer and more secure Indian Ocean Region, its chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday while citing the anti-piracy and other maritime security operations undertaken by the naval force in the last 100 days.

In response to a query during a press conference at the newly-built Nausena Bhawan here, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) said “no Indian-flagged vessel” has been targeted by the Houthis at sea.

“As you know, one MV Abdullah has been hijacked and taken to Somalia, so we are now keeping a close watch on it, whether it is going to be used as a pirate ship, or as a pirate mother ship. So, we are going to keep an even closer watch on ships operating in Somali waters,” Admiral Kumar said.

As part of maritime security operations, the Navy has undertaken anti-piracy, anti-missiles and anti-drones operations; 110 lives — 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals — have been saved during ‘Op Sankalp’, according to a PPT presentation given by a Navy officer before the press conference.

It was also mentioned in the presentation that from November last year till March, “more than 90 maritime incidents have happened”, including 57 drone or missile attacks or sightings; and 39 incidents that include piracy, hijacking, or suspicious approaches.

Earlier in the day, INS Kolkata, carrying 35 pirates who were apprehended in a recent operation off the coast of Somalia, reached Mumbai, the Navy said.

These pirates were handed over to the Mumbai Police for further legal action under Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022.

The Navy chief cited the dramatic mid-sea operation undertaken by the Navy along with the IAF that ended a three-month hijacking of a bulk carrier with the deployment of its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance aircraft and airdropping of elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 plane.

The Navy seized the former Maltese-flagged vessel, rescued 17 hostages and captured 35 armed pirates in the nearly 40-hour operation around 2,600 km from the Indian coast that experts say was the first such successful takeover of a cargo ship from the Somali pirates in the last around seven years.

In the last 10 years, this was the largest operation in which the Indian Navy caught 35 Somali pirates, the Navy chief said.

Admiral Kumar also said the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022, has been a “great enabler” for security forces, especially the Indian Navy, which is involved in anti-piracy operations.

Asked how the trial will take place for these Somali pirates brought to Mumbai, he said, “Earlier we never had any or act or any law. So, it was quite nebulous”.

In the Navy’s earlier operations, whenever pirates were captured, there were hardly any places where they could be taken to, for handing over, he said.

“We have this anti-piracy act which has been a great enabler for security forces, particularly for the Navy since we are involved in anti-piracy operations,” he added.

Earlier, a police station in Mumbai was nominated for this, now all coastal police stations have been empowered, Admiral Kumar said.

In 2011, the Navy had also captured pirates and brought them for trial in India.

“But, in the last 10 years or so, it is happening for the first time. Their modus operandi is that they will first capture a merchant ship and take it to Somalia, they will then stock it with more pirates, store food, water, fuel. They keep the crew on board, while they are negotiating for ransom, and then use this ship as a ‘mother ship’ to come out and do piracy attacks on other vessels which transit through that area,” Admiral Kumar said.

He had recently said the Navy has got a shot in the arm because of this legislation and underlined the deployment to counter piracy attempts.

“Very few countries have an act like this. This has empowered us to visit, board, search and seize any suspicious vessel, craft, fishing boat, dhow, we board, we inspect and if we find any piracy triggers, we take action. In the last 100 days, we must have done more than 1,000 boardings. Boarding a vessel takes on average 5-6 hours to board and inspect it thoroughly,” he said.

On Houthis rebels in Yemen, he said, they have been targeting vessels with ballistic missiles, shore-to-ship missiles, and drones. They have been using drones for surveillance as well, he said.

The Navy chief also said that 100 days of sustained ‘Op Sankalp’ has also broken the myth of short and swift operations.

Asked if India’s growing prowess in seas has elevated the image of the Indian Navy as the first responder, Admiral Kumar said, “Bharat is on the trajectory to becoming a great power.” “With great power comes great responsibility,” he said while asserting that the “Indian Navy is determined to protect, preserve, promote and pursue our national interests in the maritime domain”.

Asked how long these operations will continue, he replied, till the Indian Ocean is safe and secure. “The Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure a safer, more secure Indian Ocean Region.” So, whether it is Indian nationals or vessels, “we will ensure their protection”, the Navy chief said.

“We are the largest resident naval power in the Indian Ocean. Indian Navy’s responsibility is to ensure the Indian Ocean Region remains safe, secure, and stable and we will ensure that it is free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order is maintained,” he added.

In his opening address, he also asserted that the new Nausena Bhawan is “not just a building but a symbol of ‘Naya Bharat’ and ‘Nayi Nausena’ and the progress of both our nation and the Navy”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)