“Modernisation of the Indian Navy as per the MCPP and LTIPP”
Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff
In Vayu’s exclusive interview with Admiral Sunil Lanba, the CNS reiterated that the Navy is progressing towards a well-balanced, multi-dimensional force with modern surface, sub- surface, and air assets for defending national interests. High priority is given to indigenous ship building with references made to the aircraft acquisition plans.
VAYU : The Indian Navy is reportedly progressing its indigenisation efforts in accordance with Plan 2015- 30, augmented further by the Naval Aviation Indigenisation Road Map 2017- 22. According to reports, the Navy’s long term plan includes acquisition of 198 warships by 2027, 120 of them being ‘capital warships’, against the current inventory of 140 vessels of which just 70 are offensive combat platforms. Please elucidate on this steps being taken to bridge this ‘gap’.
CNS : Modernisation of the Indian Navy is undertaken in accordance with our Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) and the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan ( LTIPP). Towards maintaining a well- balanced, multi
dimensional force with modern surface, sub-surface and air assets for defending our national interests against potential threats, the present force levels are being augmented and modernised. The future naval force is envisaged to retain the capability to undertake missions across the spectrum of conflict in an increasingly challenging and dynamic security environment.
The Indian Navy accords high priority to developing indigenous shipbuilding capability. Presently, 34 ships and submarines are under construction for the Navy, of which 32 are being built in various Indian shipyards.The new aircraft carrier, IAC-1, is under construction at CSL, Kochi. Four destroyers of Project 15B Class, and seven frigates of Project 17A Class are also under construction in shipyards at Mumbai and Kolkata which will be delivered commencing from 2021. Five Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels are under construction at Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, Gujarat. In addition, Kalvari- class submarines are under construction at Mazagaon Dock Ltd. The first submarine of the Project, INS Kalvari, was commissioned on 14 December 2017 and the second is likely to join our fleet soon.
Contract for eight Landing Craft Utility Mk.IV ships was concluded with GRSE and the first four ships have already been commissioned, while the next four ships are scheduled in the coming months.
Further, Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been accorded for 54 ships and six submarines. These platforms will replace the existing ships and submarines, while also augmenting our force levels.
Modernisation of the Indian Navy is dictated primarily by the principle of optimum balance in the capabilities required for various types of naval operations. It also caters for our present and future threat perceptions based on the assessment of security environment. Access to technologies and availability of resources also influence the physical realisation of modernisation plans. The ongoing modernisation aims to create a full range of capabilities for accomplishing missions across the entire spectrum of maritime threats and challenges. Our force levels will gradually increase to ensure that adequate assets, both in terms of capacity and capability, are available for maritime security of the nation.
We aim to be a 200-ship Navy in the coming decade.
VAYU : According to your statement made earlier this year, work on the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ( IAC- 1) is progressing well and that the ship would join the Navy by 2020. Please give an update on the schedule for commissioning of the new INS Vikrant and which aircraft types will initially operate from this carrier.
CNS : Construction of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ( IAC- 1) is underway at Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi. Presently, the hull construction has been completed and the ship is in advanced stage of outfitting. Ship construction has entered the trial phase with commencement of machinery trials from mid-2018. All the equipment, machinery and ship systems would first be evaluated in harbour followed by sea trials. The sea trials of the ship are expected to commence in early 2020.
IAC-1 is designed to operate 30 fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including MiG29K, LCA, ALH and Ka-31 helicopters. We are sparing no effort to ensure that the ship joins the fleet in the next few years.
VAYU : In this context, an RFI for 57 multi- role carrier borne fighters (MRCBF) was issued in late 2016 and after examination of responses, the request for proposal (RFP) was to be issued to selected OEMs. When is this likely to take place, as selection of the type could impact on IAC-1 specifications?
CNS : The RFI of the MRCBF was hosted last year. Responses from the vendors have been comprehensive and are presently under examination. The aircraft selected would be such that changes required to the existing aircraft carriers to operate the aircraft, if any, would be minimal. The RFP is likely to be issued in 2019.
VAYU : Late last year you had stated that the Indian Navy’s aircraft inventory would increase from the present 238 aircraft to 500 numbers within a decade. Can you kindly give an indication as to how many of these would be fixed-wing types, both for service on board the aircraft carriers as also shore based?
CNS : Aircraft acquisition in the Indian Navy is planned to be undertaken in accordance with our capability development roadmaps, the Maritime Capability and Perspective Plan (MCPP) and Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan. The present MCPP caters for the capabilities that the Indian Navy seeks to induct by 2027. These capabilities would require phasewise induction of Multi- Role Carrier Based Fighters, Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti- Submarine Warfare Aircraft, Ship-borne Multi-Role and Utility Helicopters.
In addition, Medium Altitude Long Endurance and High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft are also needed to augment existing surveillance and patrol capabilities. The Indian Navy presently has a fleet of around 240 aircraft. With the induction of the various types of aircraft I have just mentioned, the total number of aircraft in the Indian Navy inventory, to meet our operational requirements, is likely to increase significantly in the coming decade. A large component of the naval air arm will be seabased, and would operate from the aircraft carriers as well as other warships. The shorebased operations would be largely limited to surveillance and patrol aircraft and training squadrons.
VAYU : The Naval Light Utility Helicopter ( NUH) has for long been seen as replacement for the obsolescent Chetak. In this context, it is encouraging that the MoD has very recently given the
go ahead for progressing the case for 111 NUH under the ‘Strategic Partnership Model’ as also acquisition of the first tranche of (24) multi-role helicopters. Will this requirement be fast- tracked considering the urgency?
CNS : Considering the urgent need for replacement of Chetak helicopters, the Naval Utility Helicopter is being actively pursued by the Indian Navy. The Expression of Interest have been issued to the OEMs and SPs in October 2018. The RFP is likely to be issued by June 2019. The Indian Navy envisages induction of these helicopters commencing 2024.
For the MRH case, Letter of Request (LOR) for Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) has been issued to US DoD in October 2018. It is being endeavored to formulate and sign the LOA by mid- 2019. The first batch of helicopters are likely to be delivered within 12 months of signing of LOA.
VAYU : You were at the Conclave of Chiefs and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at Tehran during April 2018, this Indian initiative having grown into becoming a major naval forum. Kindly enumerate on some of the decisions taken to explore new avenues for naval cooperation in the region.
CNS : IONS is held once every two years and it also incorporates the Conclave of Chiefs. It is hosted by the ‘Chair’ of IONS. Last IONS was held at Tehran, Iran from 22 to 25 April 2018. The deliberations during the Conclave of Chiefs were aimed at deliberating Maritime security concerns of the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy has also supported efforts at IONS towards establishing standard procedures for enhanced effectiveness through participation in the IONS Working Groups on HADR, Information Sharing & Interoperability, and Maritime Security. We are currently steering the efforts on HADR as well as Information Sharing as the ‘Chair’ for these Working Groups. In recent months, the guidelines for HADR formulated by the IONS Working Group on HADR have been adopted by IONS. A table- top exercise has also been conducted at Visakhapatnam in September 2018 which was attended by 10 member nations.
We will also be hosting the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the establishment of IONS on 13-14 November 2018 at Kochi. As part of the celebrations a ‘Seminar’ with the theme ‘IONS as a catalyst for Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)’, a ‘Tall Ship Regatta’ and ‘Release of Commemorative Stamp’ will be undertaken. The Tall Ship Regatta envisages embarkation of ‘Observers’ as well as participation of Tall Ships from IONS Member and Observer nations, and will be conducted from Kochi to Muscat tracing the ‘ Project Mausam’ route.
Thank you, Sir !