Naval

Indian Navy

Highlights:

Indian Navy is the 7^th strongest navies of the world.
The Indian Navy operates three operational Commands. Each Command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the rank of vice-admiral.
Indian Navy has its operational and training bases in Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command is a unified Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard theater command based at the capital, Port Blair.
The Indian Navy has evolved as a balanced, multi-dimensional, multi-spectrum force, with a mix of ships, submarines, and aircraft (manned and unmanned), with dedicated satellite and information systems.
The purpose of India’s new Maritime Strategy is to maintain and further develop the Indian Navy as a combat ready, technology driven, networked force.
The key focus of the Maritime Strategy 2015 is on developing the multi-mission, strategic, operational and tactical capabilities, across all dimensions and for the full spectrum of naval combat power.
The naval air-arm of the Indian Navy currently operates 21 air squadrons. Of these, 10 operate fixed-wing aircraft, 8 are helicopter squadrons and the remaining 3 are equipped with UAVs.
The air arm of Indian Navy operates an aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is capable to carry over 30 aircrafts including MiG 29K, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King and domestic-built ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters.
The Kamov-31 choppers also provide the airborne early warning cover for the fleet. In the anti-submarine role, the Sea King, Ka-28, and the domestic built HAL Dhruv are used. The MARCOS also uses Sea King and HAL Dhruv helicopters while conducting operations. Maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations are carried out by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon and the Ilyushin 38. The UAV arm consists of the IAI Heron and Searcher-IIs that are operated from both surface ships and shore establishments for surveillance missions.
As of December 2017, the Navy’s sub-surface fleet includes 1 nuclear-powered attack submarine, 1 Ballistic missile submarine, and 14 conventionally-powered attack submarines.
Sangraha is a joint electronic warfare programme between DRDO and the Indian Navy. The programme is intended to develop a family of electronic warfare suites, for use on different naval platforms capable of detecting, intercepting, and classifying pulsed, carrier wave, pulse repetition frequency agile, frequency agile and chirp radars.
The Indian Navy is moving from a platform centric force to a network centric force by linking all shore-based installations and ships via a high-speed data networks and satellites. The network is referred to as the Navy Enterprise Wide Network (NEWN).
Indian Navy has taken a number of initiatives to encourage other shipyards, including private yards, to enter the specialized field of warship construction.
Indian Navy is pushing the indigenous development as a part of ‘Make in India’ programme. INS Kadmat, constructed at Garden Reach, Kolkata is about 90% indigenous. According to Indian Navy’s official sources, 46 platforms currently on order, ranging from submarines to aircraft carrier, are being built by Indian shipyards, public and private.
Indian Navy is building its own AIP (Air-independent propulsion) system with DRDO.
The Indian Navy published the Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan (2015 – 2027) with an aim to provide a long term perspective plan for creation of operational, maintenance, training and administrative infrastructure.
In 2015, Indian Navy has released its revised Maritime Security Strategy. Indian Navy’s key maritime security operations are EEZ Surveillance and Patrols, Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT), Anti-Piracy Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations, Non-combatant Evacuation Operations, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Peace Support Operations (PSO), Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR).
The events of ‘26/11’ have created urgency for revamping the coastal and offshore security organizations.
India is playing an active role in the regional cooperative programs which aims at enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The key focus areas under Indian Navy’s new maritime strategy are- Indigenization for Self-Reliance and Self-Sufficiency, Standardization and Modularity, Maritime Domain Awareness, Network Centric Operations, Enhanced Reach and Sustainability, Power Projection and Sea Control, Force Protection, Joint Operations, Special Forces Operations, Force Maintenance, Infrastructure and Logistics and New and Evolving Technologies.
Malabar Naval Exercise is a trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners. Originally a bilateral exercise between India and the United States, Japan became a permanent partner in 2015. Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
Milan naval exercise is a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Milan was first held in 1995. Apart from the Indian Navy, the navies of Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the inaugural edition.
On 6^th March 218, the Indian Navy has begun an eight-day-long mega naval exercise ‘MILAN 2018’ along with leading maritime powers of the region at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some 28 warships including 17 from India and 11 from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand have participated in the exercise. The aim of the 10th edition of the exercise is to expand regional cooperation and combat unlawful activities in critical sea lanes.
The Indian Navy engages in Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks to plan, discuss and execute maritime cooperation roadmap through a structured format. The Indian Navy presently engages with Australia, France, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Oman, Maldives, Vietnam, UAE, Myanmar, Bangladesh, USA, UK, South Korea and Russia.
The Indian Navy exercises with over ten navies which includes USA, UK, Russia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, France, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Oman.

Indian Navy – Combat Platforms

Surface Ships

INS Vikramaditya – DESTROYERS- Delhi Class, Rajput Class, Kolkata Class
Shivalik Class, Talwar Class, Kamorta Class
Brahmaputra Class, Godavari Class
Kora Class, Khukri Class
Veer Class, Abhay Class
Austin Class, Shardul Cass, Magar Class
Kumbhir Class, LCU (MK-3) Class, LCU (MK-IV) Class
Sukanya Class, Saryu Class, Karwar Class
Fleet Tankers, Torpedo Recovery Vessels, Ocean Going Tugs, Nireekshak Class
Trinket Class, Super Dvora II Class, Bangaram Class, Car Nicobar Class, Immediate Support Vessels
Sandhayak Class, Makar Class
Tir Class, Sail Ships/Boats, Sagardhwani Class

Naval Aviation

Aircraft & Helicopters

Hawk Mk 132, Boeing P-8I
SEAKING 42 (B/C), UH 3H
KAMOV-28, KAMOV-31
ALH, Chetak
UAV Heron, UAV Searcher
Dornier 228, IL 38
MIG 29-K (Fighter)

Indian Naval Air Squadrons

Submarines Active

Kalvari Class – INS Kalvari is the first of the six Scorpene class submarines built under Project 75.The Submarine was commissioned on 14 December 2017.

Chakra Class- INS Chakra is an 8,140-tonne Akula class, nuclear-powered submarine..The submarine was commissioned on 04 April, 2012.

Sindhughosh Class- Sindhughosh class submarines are the Kilo class diesel-electric submarines. They are designated 877EKM, and were built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie and the Ministry of Defence (India).

Shishumar Class- The Shishumar class vessels (Type 1500) are diesel-electric submarines..These submarines are developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).The first two of these vessels were built by HDW at Kiel, while the remainder have been built at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) Mumbai.

(Source: Indian Navy’s Website)

Indian Navy’s Navika Sagar Parikrama – Circumnavigating The Globe on an Indian-Built Sail Boat INSV Tarini by Women Naval Officers

Navika Sagar Parikrama is a project of Indian Navy wherein a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini. This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.

On 2^nd of March 2018, INSV Tarini entered Cape Town (South Africa). The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. Indian Defense Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman had flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on 10 September 17. The vessel has covered 17500 Nautical miles from Goa, crossing the Equator on 25 September 17, Cape Leeuwin on 09 November 17 and Cape Horn on 19 January 18. The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year, and showcases the ‘Make in India’ initiative on the International forum. For more details read official press release

Indian Navy Indigenization Initiatives

The ship-building materials, equipment and systems onboard an Indian Navy warship/submarine can be classified into three categories: Float, Move and Flight

Items being imported for shipbuilding are:

Float Category

Arrestor Wires for Flight Operations on Aircraft Carriers
Aircraft Lifts
Items for Replenishment at Sea (RAS) Operations
Composite Superstructures
Paints for Underwater Hull, Flight Deck and Radar Absorption
Composite Foldable Aircraft Hangar Door
Bow Sonar Dome
Glass for Windows on Ships’ Bridge

Fight Category

Surface to Air Missile
Surface surveillance radar [Buy & Make (Indian) in progress]
Air Early Warning Radar [Buy & Make (Indian) in progress]
Satellite Communication System (SATCOM)
Aviation Control Suites
Fire Control Systems
Integrated Mast & Control System for Submarines
(aa) Mine Hunting (ab) Portable Diver Detection Sonars [(Buy and Make (Indian)]
Light and Heavy Weight Torpedoes
Towed Array Sonars
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/ Remotely Operated Vehicles/ Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Global Positioning Systems, Inertial Navigation Systems

Move Category

Gas Turbines (11-15 MW and 20-25 MW)
Main Propulsion Diesel Engines
Complex Marine Gearboxes (1-50 MW)
Shafting
Propellers – Both Fixed & Controllable Pitch
CFC Free Fire Fighting Systems for Magazines & Machinery Spaces

Indian Navy has been able to achieve about 90% indigenization in the ‘FLOAT’ category, followed by about 50-60% in ‘MOVE, category depending upon the type of propulsion and 30% indigenization in the ‘FIGHT’ category.

Indian Navy IN is working closely with DRDO, DPSUs and Private Sector players like L&T, Mahindra Defence Systems, Tata Power SED to bridge this capability gap, and a number of projects are underway for indigenous development of weapon & sensors as well as propulsion system controls.

For more details read Indian Naval Indigenization Plan (2015-2030)

Major Systems Indigenized

Existing procedures for Indigenization

Indian Navy undertakes indigenous development of equipment and systems through Public and Private Sector routes. IN also interacts with industry organizations such as CII/ FICCI/ ASSOCHAM, R&D Organizations and academia for active participation in development of equipment and systems.

Indian Navy

For more details visit- Existing procedures for Indigenization

Agencies Involved in Indigenization

Indian Navy – Indigenization & Innovation

Indian Navy – Test Facilities Available for use by Private Sector

Procedure to avail the test facilities

A registered private firm shall submit the end use certificate, Non disclosure declaration form along with the Test facility request.
The items / sub systems meant for Defence applications will only be tested.
The Nodal agency in respective Naval unit will study the technical specs of the test to be carried out.
The slot availability along with quote will be communicated to private firm in case the available test facilities are capable of meeting the technical requirements.
The private firm shall place a Service Order including acceptance of payment terms as per the quote and handover the job at the respective Naval unit Premises to carry out the test(s).
The test(s) will be carried out as per standard procedures by respective Naval unit only.
The test reports along with the job will be handed over to the private firm.

(Source: Indian Navy’s Official Website)

Indian Naval Indigenization Plan (INIP) 2015-2030

Naval Aviation Indigenization Roadmap – 2017-22

Other important links

Indian Navy

INDIAN MARITIME DOCTRINE Indian Navy

Quarterdeck 2018- Navy Foundation Magazine

Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy (Indian Maritime Security Strategy 2015)

Ministry of Defense

Make in India Defense

Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) -2018)

Army Air Force