India sanctions 42 additional coastal radars for security

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 21

India on Tuesday decided to augment its coastal surveillance capabilities as it sanctioned the second phase of 42 coastal radar chain — including 4 mobile ones — to supplement the existing 46, installed after the November 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai.

The 38 additional radar stations and four mobile radar stations were sanctioned by the Defence Acquisition Council at its meeting on Tuesday afternoon. It will cost Rs 800 crore, with public sector giant Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) undertaking the task.

The DAC headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar approved that the radar chain will integrate the vessel (ship) management system for Gulf of Kutch and Gulf Khambat — both of which are in Gujarat, close to Karachi, Pakistan, from where the Mumbai attackers took the sea route to Mumbai.

This is continuation of the coastal surveillance systems on for gap-less electronic surveillance, an official of the Ministry Of Defence said here.

The DAC also sanctioned an ‘intermediate’ engine repair facility for MiG 29k fighter jets of the Indian Navy. The facility will be at the Indian Navy base at Goa.

The Navy has 45 such jets that operate from the deck of the sea-borne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.