EDITORIAL
This issue coincides with major changes in the Indian Navys top hierarchy. First of all we at
SP’s Naval Forces wish Admiral D.K. Joshi a very happy retired life. He resigned in the highest traditions of defence forces by taking moral responsibility for the accidents and incidents which had taken place during the past few months. Admiral R.K. Dhowan took over as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on April 17 after officiating as the CNS in the interim period. We at SP’s Naval Forces wish him a satisfying and successful tenure. May he bring glad tidings and the Navy again rides the waves. It was thus appropriate to include with excerpts of the interview which Admiral R.K. Dhowan gave to SP’s
Naval Forces when he was the Vice Chief. In our quest to give a regional flavor, we are covering the Indonesian Navy as Indonesia is the worlds largest archipelagic state, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation and the worlds third most populous democracy. Their Navy faces non-traditional maritime security challenges in Indonesia’s EEZ, such as illegal fishing, piracy, human and drug trafficking thus Indonesia is striving to modernise its Navy.
During an election year, the government in power passes an interim or vote on account budget. Accordingly the outgoing UPA Government opted for an interim budget. Highlights of the Defence Budget 2014-15 are included in this issue. It is very unlikely that the new government will be able to progress any modernisation schemes due to time constraint as by the time full budget is passed and the modernisation process starts, financial year 2014-15 will almost be over.
One of the limitations in conventional submarine operations is the constraint on their dived endurance or the period they can remain dived without having to recharge their batteries. Major research and development has gone in to design a system which would not require external air to run the diesel generator engine which is now known as Air Independent Propulsion (AIP). Recently great strides have been made in the AIP technology and the future conventional submarines of the Indian Navy will have AIP. Read all about it in an article on the subject.
This issue is wrapped up with the usual News in Brief and appointments.
Happy reading to all you discerning readers!