October-November 2013 Volume 8 No. 5 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) www.spsnavalforces.net ROUNDUP PAGE 4 COVER STORY Guns Remain in Navy’s Future Plans Companion systems having both the gun and the missile launcher is the trend which may change by 2030, only if the missile costs and sizes drop drastically and the numbers stored onboard can be increased substantially. Indo-Oman Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr S. Kulshrestha PAGE 6 Patrolling with Submarines, Ships & Boats Maritime Relations During wartime, maritime patrolling is critical PHOTOGRAPH: BAE Systems but it is also essential in peacetime due to piracy, terrorism, smuggling, protection of A file photograph of fishing areas, exclusive economic zone and Al Shamikh in Oman sea lines of communication. Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand PAGE 8 Autonomous Undersea Vehicles Surfacing UUVs have undergone over three decades of development and experimentation effort spearheaded by the US Navy. Rapid induction of UUVs in large numbers is likely to revolutionise naval operations itself. Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr S. Kulshrestha PAGE 11 Big Blow to the Navy Eighteen submariners lost their lives. Their families, the submarine arm and the Navy need answers to ensure closure. The Chief Oman overlooks the Strait of Hormuz which is the sole entrance to the Arabian Gulf of the Naval Staff said, “We will hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” and the access of oil supplies to the world. The Royal Navy of Oman’s fleet consists of Vice Admiral (Retd) K.N. Sushil various craft equipped with state-of-the-art combat systems, capable of carrying out its PLUS role under all circumstances. Naval bases and other units have been built to provide Indian Navy’s First AJT operational, logistic and administrative support to the fleet. Inducted 3 Interview: Alain Houard, n LT GENERAL (RETD) NARESH CHAND The Ottoman Navy took over the port of Oman is one of the most developed and Vice President, Dassault Systèmes 10 Oman in 1522 during the fight for control stable countries in the Arab world. Oman Show Report / over the Persian Gulf. From the 17th cen- has long prospered by trading in the NAMEXPO 2013 12 HE SULTANATE OF OMAN (con- tury onwards, Oman had its own empire. Indian Ocean. Oman follows a moderate ventionally called Oman) is an During the 19th century, Oman was at the and independent foreign policy which SP’s Exclusive 14 Arab state in the South West peak of its power and vied with Portugal is aimed at maintaining good relations Asia. It is strategically located and Britain for influence in the Persian with all Middle East countries. In 1981, News in Brief 15 at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Oman’s power Oman became a founding member of the TGulf, on the southeast coast of the Ara- declined during the 20th century and it six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The bian Peninsula. Its coast is formed by the came under the influence of UK, although present king Sultan Qaboos is educated Arabian Sea on the south-east and the it was never part of the British Empire or at the Royal Academy Sandhurst and is Gulf of Oman on the north-east. The Por- its protectorate. Oman has long-standing respected by his fellow Gulf rulers as a tuguese explorers arrived in Oman dur- military and political ties with the US defence strategist who has long seen the ing 1507 and occupied Muscat till 1650, and UK. Oman is an absolute monarchy US as the key security guarantor of the APPLIED FOR which they used to protect their sea lanes. and according to international indices, region. Oman was the first Persian Gulf 5/2013 1 COVER STORY The fifth issue of SP’s Naval Forces starts strategy to stabilise the Arabian Sea as well General (Nuclear Safety). The article on with an article on 20 years of Indo-Oman as the Persian Gulf which are two of the maritime patrolling capability and a show maritime relationship. The Sultanate of world’s most volatile sea links. report on the recently held Naval and Mari- Oman (conventionally called Oman) is stra- This issue has well researched articles time Expo 2013 just about wraps this issue tegically located at the mouth of the Persian on naval guns and on unmanned under- with the usual News in Brief. Gulf, on the south-east coast of the Ara- sea vehicles (UUV). UUVs were used suc- Happy reading! bian Peninsula. Oman is one of the most cessfully in Operation Iraqi Freedom by developed and stable countries in the Arab US’ Naval Special Clearance Team One world. Oman has long prospered by trad- for mine hunting. They also carried out ing in the Indian Ocean. Oman is a mari- operations in port of Umm Qsar, up river at time nation with a coastline of 2,092 km. Its Karbala and Az Zubayr, Iraq. mainstay of the economy is oil and gas. It is Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERI- 25th in the world for oil reserves and 27th in ENCE Company, provides business and EDITORIAL the world for gas reserves. people with virtual universes to produce Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony sustainable innovations. Read more about visited Oman in May 2010 to reinforce Dassault Systémes in the interview with India’s bilateral security ties in the Gulf Alain Houard, Vice President Marine and region where other major powers, including Offshore Industry. China, have deepened their strategic mili- There is an article on Sindhurakshak tary cooperation. incident written by a veteran submariner India’s bilateral security ties have who has held important positions such as JAYANT BARANWAL Flag Officer, (Submarines); Assistant Chief advanced over the years with Oman, which Publisher & Editor-in-Chief has become central to any international of Naval Staff (Submarines) and Inspector PHOTOGRAPHS: PIB, BAE Systems state to formally allow the US military to zz Protect naval bases and other RNO use its military facilities. It has hosted the establishments. US forces during every US military opera- zz Ensure sea shipping for SAF units along tion in and around the Gulf since 1980 and the Sultanate coasts, has become a significant buyer of the US zz Conduct hydrographic surveys for the military equipment. Oman is also a partner Omani coasts. in the US efforts to counter-terrorism and zz Provide support to Royal Air Force of piracy in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Oman and Royal Oman Police (who also Maritime facts: Oman has a coastline have the mandate to provide coastal of 2,092 km. Its maritime claims include security). territorial sea of 12 nm (about 22 km), zz Provide assistance to civilians during contiguous zone of 24 nm (about 44 km) disasters and firefighting at sea. and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 zz Support coastguard unit to deter piracy nm (about 370 km) which is about half a operations and illegal migration, fight million km2. smuggling operations. Oil and gas: Similar to other Arab coun- zz To support foreign relations of the Sul- tries, oil is the mainstay of the economy of tanate by implementing courtesy visits Oman but its oil and gas reserves are not as programmes from/to the brotherly and large as some of the other Arab countries friendly countries. in the neighbourhood. The Ministry of Oil zz To protect fishing zones and other nat- and Gas is responsible for all oil and gas ural resources. infrastructure and projects. Details of oil A.K. Antony in Muscat in 2010. Defence Minister of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi is also seen. and gas production and reserves are: Naval Surface Combatants zz Crude oil (production): 915,600 bbl/ Oman has a modest fleet as compared to day (in 2012); 22 in the world. Al Rahmani warship handed India but it is adequate for its vision and zz Crude oil (proved reserves): 4.902 bil- over to Royal Navy of Oman role. It has five modern corvettes and lion bbl (as on January 1, 2012); 25 in about a dozen patrol and coastal combat- the world. ants. RNO has also ordered three offshore zz Natural gas (production): 35.94 billion patrol vessels (OPVs). The OPVs are to be cu m (in 2012); 26 in the world. known as the Khareef Class Corvettes. The zz Natural gas (proved reserves): 849.5 first two have been delivered and work billion cu m (as on January 1, 2012); 27 is on the thired. Singapore Technologies in the world. Engineering Ltd had secured a contract to design and build four patrol vessels (PVs) Armed Forces of Oman for RNO which are likely to be delivered Oman’s armed forces consist of the between 2015 and 2016. These PVs are following: 75-metre-long based on its proprietary zz Royal Army of Oman fearless class PV. zz Royal Navy of Oman zz Royal Air Force of Oman Indo-Oman Bilateral Relations Oman maintains separate armed India and Oman are linked by geography, personnel to guard the royal house- history and culture. There is evidence to hold consisting of guards, special forces suggest that there was a people to people staff, sailors and pilots. It also maintains contact during the Indus Valley Civilisa- paramilitary forces. tion and later on there were links with the Gujarat and Malabar coasts. Some salient Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) aspects are: Sultan Qaboos took over as head of the out its role under all circumstances. Naval gation, supporting development plans zz Bilateral relations between India and state on July 23, 1970, and is the Supreme bases and other units were built to provide and preserving security and dignity of Oman were formally established in Commander of the Armed Forces.