New Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has onerous tasks ahead
The new Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba has his task cut out. He has to accelerate the pace of modernisation of the Indian Navy while ensuring that it remains one of the best naval forces in the world. Admiral Lanba took charge from Admiral R.K. Dhowan on May 31, 2016, and will hold the post till May 31, 2019.
In an interview with SP’s prior to his becoming the Navy Chief, he had stated how technology would be key in the growing stature of Indian Navy. “Use of high-end technology for force level planning enhances naval capabilities and, therefore, there has been a constant effort to study the trend of technological advancements and their induction. Further, science and technology is influencing war fighting tactics to a great extent and many countries are carrying out extensive research to innovate, design and develop high-tech weapons and sensors which would bring a sea change in the conduct of naval warfare in the future. Technological self-reliance, therefore, is critical for India’s quest for global power status.”
He had said that “the enhancements of indigenous capabilities continue to remain the bedrock of Navy’s development in all dimensions, namely, surface, air, underwater, electronic warfare and space. One of the core thrust areas of the Navy is the development of network-centric operations capabilities, for both operational and support echelons.”
This fortnight the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) celebrated two years in power by organising celebrations, highlighting achievements. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) states that a lot has certainly happened in this period. The economy is looking up and foreign policy is progressing in sync with the fluid dynamics of geopolitics, including the further cementing of the China-Pakistan antiIndia axis. The major change has been the ‘Make in India’ initiative albeit its effect to be felt would pan over some years.
Another development has been the decision of the government to cancel all ongoing tenders for defence equipment won by Italy’s Finmeccanica as a precursor to blacklisting of the firm, which is being investigated for bribery in the Agusta-Westland VVIP helicopter deal. The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the media that “wherever there is capital procurement of Finmeccanica and their subsidiaries, all requests for proposal will be closed.” Finmeccanica clarified that some former employees were involved and not the company and that it would reassess its presence in India, if blacklisted, considering that it has marginal business here. All this and more this fortnight. Happy reading!