Navy Chief backs theaterisation plan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

In the backdrop of the Chinese Navy’s rapid expansion and its frequent forays into the Indian Ocean, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar today said his force was fully capable of confronting any security threat and fully backed the ambitious tri-services reforms that included setting up of a maritime theatre command.

“Details are being worked out and it may be finalised by next year,” he said while addressing a press conference on the eve of Navy Day.

The maritime theatre command is expected to be one-point command structure for all sea-going warships, submarines, planes and surveillance assets like drones.

Ready to deal with any security threat

Our force is keeping a close watch on Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean and is fully ready to deal with any security threat. —Admiral R Hari Kumar, Navy chief

The command is expected to unify and integrate assets of the Navy, IAF and Army and also the Coast Guard. Admiral Kumar said, “The Navy is wholehearted in its support for reforms and enhancing tri-service synergy. Jointness and integration cannot happen in short time. The thrust for jointness is a complicated process. We are in the third stage of war-gaming.”

“The Chief of Defence Staff is the “single-most important higher defence reform” since India’s independence in 1947,” the Admiral said. On China, he said, “The ongoing situation on northern borders has added to security challenges. We were forward deployed during the crisis along the Line of Actual Control and we were ready if an escalation had come about. We are looking at a free, open and rules-based approach to regional security.”

On the Indo-Pacific, he said, “We have 200 billion dollars of trade passing through these waters. Our planning is not against any country. Our planning is for our own maritime capability.”

Asked about the Navy’s plans to become a 170 ship force, he said certain changes were being considered in the Navy’s maritime capability perspective plan in view of an integrated plan being chalked out by the Department of Military Affairs.