Contracts for 3 subs, 26 fighter jets expected to be signed next month: Navy Chief
India is expected to sign separate contracts for the procurement of 26 new fighter jets and production of three additional Scorpene submarines next month, Indian Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi said on Monday.
Admiral Tripathi was addressing a press conference ahead of the Navy Day, which is celebrated on December 4 to mark the Indian Navy’s attack on Karachi during the 1971 war with Pakistan.
The Admiral said the “repeat order of three Scoprene class submarines is at an advanced stage. It’s just a matter of completing the formalities”.
The Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited, in collaboration with the Naval Group from France, have already constructed six such Scoprene class submarines, while five have been commissioned into the Navy. These will be in addition to the existing order of six.
On the progress of the naval fighter jets, the French-origin Rafale-M, the Admiral said: “The case for approval will go to the Cabinet Committee of Security and could be signed next month”.
The Navy is looking at procuring 26 fighter jets. Presently, the Navy uses the Russian-origin MiG-29K fighter jets for operations from sea-going aircraft carriers.
On threats from China, he said there were structures in place to monitor the presence of Chinese warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean and added the growth Pakistani Navy was aided by China and was surprising in view of the economy of the Western neighbour.
“In the last one year, we have kept a close watch on the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean. We know who is doing what and where.”
The Navy Chief said there were Chinese survey vessels and also warships transiting the seas. “Seas are open to all and all can operate till they are not affecting our security. We have an established structure to monitor who is doing what and where,” said Admiral Tripathi.
“We will ensure that that there is no impact on us. We are aware of the surprising growth of the Pakistani Navy and their aim to have 50 ships. They have chosen weapons over welfare. Good luck to them,” he said.
Several of these Pakistani warships are being made in China or with their help. It is clear that China is interested in bolstering Pakistan. The Admiral referred to eight submarines being made by Pakistan saying “we are tweaking our operational strategy to ensure a counter”.
He referred to the commissioning of the nuclear weapons-carrying submarine INS Arighaat saying “it has added to the triad—the capability to launch a nuclear warhead from sea, land, air and from under the sea”. In Navy parlance, a submarine of this type is classified as ship submersible ballistic nuclear (SSBN).
The Admiral said there was a governmental approval to design and make two submarines that are nuclear powered but don’t carry nuclear weapons. In Naval parlance, these are classified as ship submersible nuclear (SSN). “The target is to make six such SSNs,” he said.
The Navy Chief said 62 ships are under-construction and there are plans for 31 more ships that include very powerful frigates. The Navy was also looking at getting 60 copters to replace the fleet of chetak helicopters.
