Reiterating the pledge to achieve self-reliance in the Indian Navy by 2047, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said our focus is on the indigenous development of weapon systems for aircraft, submarines, and ships. During a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, he emphasised the Navy’s commitment to enhancing indigenous warship production capabilities and timely development of technologically advanced vessels. He shared details on the Navy’s plans, stating, “We aim to have 170-175 ships by 2035, with 67 currently under construction, of which 65 are in Indian shipyards.”
The emphasis is on cutting-edge technology, particularly in aviation and added, “We are actively working on the Tejas project to address unique challenges”. Admiral R Hari Kumar expressed confidence about producing suitable fighters for the Indian Navy, with a Made in India prototype expected by 2030. The first production of these jets is anticipated within the next 15 years.
Indian Navy Motto: Made in Bharat, Made by Bharat, and, where necessary, Made Exclusively for Bharat
He said we are committed to ardently seeking and embracing distinctive and transformative technologies in a time marked by swift technological progress and widespread innovation. To achieve this objective, we will adhere to the SPRINT approach, which stands for ‘Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO, and TDAC.’ “Our goal is to lead the way in setting trends and developing security solutions that are not only ‘Made in Bharat’ but are also ‘Made by Bharat.’ When required, we will craft solutions that are exclusively tailored for Bharat,” Naval Chief quipped.
In pursuing self-reliance and technological advancement, the Indian Navy is firmly committed to optimising its budget. The capital budget surpassing the 50,000 crore milestone reflects the growing confidence in our fiscal expenditures and utilisation capabilities.
“Among several operational milestones, none instils greater confidence than the inaugural trap and take-off of the LCA Navy and MiG29K onboard Vikrant in February this year. It reaffirms that we are progressing in the right direction to promote self-reliance in defence,” he observed.
Indian Navy Committed to Greater Jointness
Commenting on the jointness and integration of the armed forces, the Naval Chief noted that the various aspects of capability enhancement and budget allocation are now increasingly being considered “jointly” by all three services. From my perspective, moving forward, jointness is the essential approach as we prepare to engage and triumph successfully in the wars of the future. The late General Bipin Rawat laid the groundwork for enhanced synergy among the Armed Forces, and the current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, has revitalised these efforts. The Indian Navy remains fully dedicated to fostering greater jointness and cohesion, aiming for collective and effective outcomes.
Need for Additional Aircraft Carrier
On the issue of aircraft carriers, the Indian Navy is actively advocating for a third carrier—designated as IAC-2—following the INS Vikramaditya and the INS Vikrant, which will significantly enhance the Navy’s capabilities. The proposal for the second indigenously built aircraft carrier, IAC-2, has already been put forward. Since gaining the ability to construct carriers, there has been a persistent need for additional aircraft carriers.
Highlighting the advantages of having previously constructed an indigenous aircraft carrier, Admiral Kumar mentioned that, with the accrued experience, the timeline for building a subsequent carrier will be considerably reduced. “IAC-1 (INS Vikrant) took 11-12 years to build. There were specific challenges with IAC-1 as it was a first-time endeavour. However, that is not the case now, and it will likely take about eight years. It is an opportune time for aircraft carrier construction. Therefore, we are highly confident that, if approved by the government, it will be completed in a timely manner,” added the Chief.
Ravi Shankar
