SOLE OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER February-March 2014 Volume 9 No. 1 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) www.spsnavalforces.com ROUNDUP THE ONLY NAVAL MAGAZINE FOR NAVIES ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC DEFEXPO 2014 SPECIAL INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHS: DPR Visit us at Hall 14 Booth 14.3 PAGE 4 Force Projection & Modernisation of Indian Navy The cornerstone of the doctrinal transformation of the Indian Navy since independence has been self-reliance through indigenisation. Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay PAGE 8 Modernisation of the Indian Coast Guard ‘We are committed to In the past three decades, the ICG has grown from strength to strength and has become a force to reckon with. The fleet size has grown to over 80 vessels of various ensuring security and size and role capabilities, apart from several interceptor craft and workboats. Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay stability in the IOR’ PAGE 11 India’s Warship Building Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, in an interview Capability A major criticism of the warship construction with SP’s Naval Forces, said that issues of regional stability would continue to remain programme in India lies in its huge time and an imperative that would impact India’s national security matrix in the coming years cost overruns giving the impression that DPSU shipyards are inefficient as compared to their SP’s Naval Forces (SP’s): The maritime coupled with failing states and ungov- and long-term would remain on induction counterparts abroad. eminence of a nation is gauged through erned spaces. Therefore, in my opinion, of platforms to achieve a balanced ‘force Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr S. Kulshrestha the prowess of its Navy. How do you see issues of regional stability would continue mix’ for undertaking roles, missions and the growth and potential of the Indian to remain an imperative that would impact objectives in our primary and secondary PLUS Navy fulfilling its doctrinal obligations? India’s national security matrix in the com- areas of interest. Significant attention is SP’s Exclusive 9 Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee ing years. Consequently, the Indian Navy already being paid to augment and build (DCNS): There is a growing acceptance would always endeavour to remain well technical and support infrastructure for Saab Naval Portfolio and of the fact that the maritime domain will poised and equipped to play a maritime maintenance of new induction platforms Teaming with India 10 be the key enabler to India’s economic leadership role in the IOR. Needless to say, and undertake repairs of state-of-the-art growth. The role and responsibility of the we seek to evolve relevant doctrines and equipment being inducted. Further, the ShinMaywa: Infinite Indian Navy has therefore grown corre- conceptual frameworks in order to acquire impetus to attract and retain first rate per- Possibilities of the US-2 13 spondingly with our expanding economic the war-fighting capabilities to operate sonnel while working towards rationalisa- interests. The responsibilities associated across the full spectrum of conflict in sup- tion of manning policies by incorporating/ News in Brief 14 with being a mature and responsible port of our national interests. While com- inducting new technologies and practices regional maritime power would also have bat readiness remains our primary focus, would also be a priority area. to be concurrently fulfilled. we are also committed to ensuring secu- The overall security situation in the rity and stability in the IOR and in provid- SP’s: Considering the long gestation Indian Ocean region (IOR) continues to ing support to our maritime neighbours. period in induction of cutting-edge be palpable due to piracy and terrorism, Our focus, therefore, in the medium- technologies, systems, weapons, etc APPLIED FOR 1/2014 1 Unique.Unique. AheadAhead ofof thethe Art.Art. Unique. Ahead of the Art. ShinMaywaShinMaywaShinMaywa Advert_for Advert_for Advert_for MYB MYB MYB & & MAI.indd &MAI.indd MAI.indd 1 1 1 20/11/1220/11/1220/11/12 2:18 2:18 PM 2:18 PM PM ShinMaywa1-13_SP's NavalForces Advert for NF.indd 5-2013.indd 1 14 24/01/1325/01/14 3:481:54 PMPM INTERVIEW MESSAGE Minister of Defence India I am happy to learn that SP Guide Publications is completing 50 years of existence. Since its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has played an unmatched and a vital role by serving our Armed Forces and their concerns. The publications’ efforts have been appreciated by all its readers. I hope that SP Guide Publications will continue to serve our Armed Forces and the nation in the years to come. I wish SP Guide Publications the very best in its endeavours. Jai Hind. A.K. Antony The first issue of SP’s Naval tion Control Vessels, FPVs etc. We wish our readers a joyous Forces coincides with the Def- News in Brief just about wraps expo 2014, being held from Feb- and prosperous New Year. For us the issue. ruary 6-9, at Delhi. SP Guide Pub- at SP Guide Publications, 2014 For the information of you is momentous as we move into lications is the sole media partner ardent readers, SP’s Naval our Golden Jubilee celebrations and has a bouquet of magazines Forces has completed eight glo- to offer for the Defexpo 2014. This with our heartfelt gratitude to our rious years in 2013 which would founder Shri Sukhdeo Prasad issue of SP’s Naval Forces, which not have been possible without is part of the bouquet, starts with Baranwal. We reiterate our the support of ‘you’ readers and the excerpts of the interview with commitment to our readers of our cooperation of the Naval Head- Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice constant endeavour to enrich and quarters. February 1 is Indian Admiral P.K. Chatterjee, who is a augment our publication. Coast Guard Day. SP Guide hard core submariner. During the Our Founder Publications wish them a very Shri Sukhdeo Prasad Baranwal interview, Vice Admiral Chatterjee glorious and successful future. dwelt at length as how the Indian If you are at the Defexpo 2014, EDITORIAL Navy is going to fulfill its doctrinal Navy’s supporting plans for Indian Coast Guard is inti- please visit us at Hall 14, Booth obligation, state of operational Force Projection through mod- mately involved with coastal 14.3. Wish you all happy reading. readiness and degree of indigeni- ernisation. The author traces the security thus an insight into sation of naval hardware, apart Navy’s path-breaking journey their modernisation plans has from other issues. He opined that from pre-Independence to the also been included. Due to the the overall security situation in the current era. The Navy has been persistent effort of the Indian Indian Ocean region continues to in the forefront in attempting Coast Guard (ICG) its post- be palpable due to piracy and ter- India’s mantra of self-sufficiency 26/11 Capability Building Plan rorism, coupled with failing states in military hardware through has resulted in the ICG conclud- and ungoverned spaces. There- indigenisation. In order to ful- ing contracts for more than 120 fore, in his opinion, issues of fill this aspiration, an article on surface platforms of different regional stability would continue India’s warship building capabil- sizes since January 2009 till to remain centre stage. ity is included which takes a hard date. The current force level has The interview is logically fol- look at the current capability and grown to over 90 surface plat- JAYANT BARANWAL lowed by an article on the Indian future plans for its development. forms comprising OPVs, Pollu- Publisher & Editor-in-Chief on to naval platforms, how is the Indian relationship is essential. This will give con- DCNS: The recent re-organisation at the DCNS: The Indian Navy has been charged Navy managing to ensure its operational fidence to both parties for sharing the risks Naval Headquarters has been undertaken with safeguarding India’s interest in the readiness? of development as well as the benefits of to provide greater synergy and coordina- maritime domain as also to extend its DCNS: The class of equipment available new technology with reduced costs. tion between fields that are interlinked reach for affording a credible deterrence on the ships could be broadly divided into and complement each other. While the capability. All operations in the IOR are three categories, viz. ‘to float’, ‘to move’ SP’s: In the context of true blue-water Navy has always placed high priority on accordingly aimed at enhancing national and ‘to fight’. In the first two categories, capability, are you satisfied with the expanding its capabilities in these fields— and regional common maritime security there have been considerable indigenisation current rate of development in all three to a very large extent by leveraging niche interest. The key to any successful opera- efforts and we have been able to identify dimensions of the Indian Navy? technologies developed indigenously, the tion is maintaining situational or maritime indigenous sources for various equipment. DCNS: Force structure planning by its very new Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff will awareness, networked command, control However, for the ‘fight’ category which nature is a complex process and requires provide greater focus and consolidation to and communications, ready response and includes weapons and sensors, we still an assured long-term funding and credible these efforts. As far as the dedicated satel- long reach. Quick and calibrated response depend largely on imports. Numerous sources of supply. Today, the Indian Navy lite is concerned, we see it as a means of commensurate to the situation as well as schemes under ‘Buy and Make’ and ‘Buy operates a balanced force comprising two ensuring seamless, efficient, reliable and optimum jointmanship with the other ser- and Make (Indian)’ are in progress for aircraft carriers, multi-role destroyers and multi-spectrum communication across vices and other agencies are necessary.