Jayant Baranwal, editor-in-Chief, SP’s Naval Forces in conversation with the navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba on the eve of navy day. Jayant Baranwal (JB): How do you perceive Indian Navy versus the Pak and the Chinese Navy and how equipped are we to handle the so-called two-front war with them? Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): As far as the indian navy is concerned, we don’t have fronts, we have only one front that is the indian Ocean, so we don’t divide into any fronts. As far as the Pakistan navy is concerned, we have the apt superiority under all fields and all domains. As far as the Indian Ocean is concerned versus China, the balance of power rests in our favour. JB: What about South China Sea?

CNS: because same advantages rest with China in the South China Sea, the balance of power will be in their favour. JB: Regarding Helicopter there a few elements, there is NUH with 111 numbers and MRH – 24 helicopters being requested from the US, plus some follow-up for MRH that can be 100 plus in quantity later on. Please share some clarity on this.

CNS: As far as the helicopter case goes, there are three programmes, we have got the Aon for the naval utility Helicopter (nuH) under the strategic partnership model for a 111 helicopters. next there are two cases on the multi-role Helicopter (MRH), first is a direct acquisition through the foreign military sales (FmS) route from the united States for 24 multi-role Helicopters, thereafter, now going to take up the case for 123 naval multi-role Helicopter (nmrH) under the Strategic Partner model, which will be built in india. JB: What is Navy doing to attract the youth to join the services?

CNS: We are taking a number of measures to encourage the youth to join the armed forces, including advertising and media campaigns, continued image projection, participation in career fairs and exhibitions, campus recruitments. We get a good traction for the vacancies, for every one post there are about 400 applicants, to give you an example. approval has also been accorded for 56 ships and six submarines.

The indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant is presently in its third and final phase of construction at Cochin Shipyard in Kerala. The sea trials for the ship are expected to commence mid-2020 and rigorous efforts are being made to achieve the delivery timelines. induction of Vikrant will provide significant fillip to the Navy’s blue water capability, increasing the reach and impact of carrier-borne strike forces, both as a means of deterrence as well as during combat operations.