OFFICIALTN ER AVAIL YOUR COPY NOW! February-March 2020 Volume 15 No. 1 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) OFFICARIAL MEDIAOF P MOD SP’s Military Yearbook 2019 DEFEXPO 2020 MEET US @ PUBLISHER OF HALL 3 | STAll - Q47 DEFEXPOOF M 20O DDAILY For details, go to Back Cover www.spsnavalforces.com ROUNDUP THE ONLY NAVAL MAGAZINE FOR NAVIES ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC PAGE 4 LEAD STORY Navy’s Quest for Modernisation PHOTOGRAPH: Indian Navy Indian Navy’s Khanderi stealth submarine Under the plan, the Navy aims to have a force level of 200 ships, 500 aircraft and 24 attack submarines. At present, the Navy has around 132 ships, 220 aircraft and 15 submarines. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) PAGE 7 Maritime Surveillance INS Vikramaditya, flagship of the Indian Navy Sikorsky MH-60R - likely to be signed for Indian Navy under FMS With the centre of gravity of conflict veering towards the Indian Ocean, the requirement of maritime surveillance of the Indian Navy (IN) is in more limelight. Indian Navy: Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) PAGE 8 A Formidable Blue Water Action Stations: Submarine Battle Ahead Force in the Making India needs a modern Navy to protect its maritime interests and shoulder additional responsibilities, particularly in the current geo-political and security situation that prevails in the Indian Ocean region n SALONI SALIL Given the geopolitical nuances in the This stands true even in the 21st century. The Indian Navy, a partner in progress, Navantia S-80 Plus-class submarine Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy needs to HE INDIAN NAVY, WHICH is transform itself into a builder’s navy and has been shouldering the aspirations of a Vishal Thapar analyses how the Project 75(I) the principle manifestation of achieve nation building through shipbuild- New India, a young nation, on the move competition is poised after the shortlisting India’s maritime power, aims to ing. What is left to be witnessed is, will transforming itself into a modern nation. of contenders and points out the pitfalls that govern two oceans, the Indian the Indian Navy become a formidable blue The commanding heights that the Indian may be encountered ahead, as India ambi- Ocean as well the Pacific. It has water force to reckon with in the future. Ocean enjoys is well known — Admiral tiously seeks to leverage this programme to Tbeen making untiring efforts to augment Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Alfred T. Mahan highlighted strategic gain submarine-building autonomy. its naval prowess. However, its efforts addressing the nation on Navy Day 2019, importance of the Indian Ocean in these Vishal Thapar have been hinged by various impediments rightly took us back to the history of words, whoever attains maritime suprem- such as budgetary constraints, Indian mili- the Chola Kingdom. The Chola Navy was acy in the Indian Ocean would be a promi- PLUS tary industry facing several structural considered one of the strongest navy of nent player on the international scene. dysfunctionalities, thereby, retarding the its time and one of the major reasons Just like the seas, geopolitical environ- News in Brief 11 Indian Navy modernisation ambitions. behind the Chola’s economic supremacy. ment has constant change in its nature 1/2020 1 MQ-9B MULTI-ROLE SINGLE SOLUTION Advanced terrestrial and maritime armed reconnaissance – the strategic and tactical solution for the Indian Armed Forces. Visit us at DefExpo booth R52 in the USA Partnership Pavilion ga-asi.com ©2020 GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. Leading The Situational Awareness Revolution 2001_GA-ASI_SPs Naval Forces DefExpo_P04615.indd 1 1/20/20 11:56 AM LEAD STORY The lead article is by an eminent ing a ‘Net Security Provider’. maritime surveillance is included tions for finals received by us are Geopolitics and Security analyst India has entered the 21st which gives out current capabili- amongst the highest by a pub- who traces the evolution of the century with a small but formi- ties and future requirements. lishing company, which includes Indian Navy to its ‘Blue Water dable regional naval posture. The year started with a bang global leaders and heavyweights. Avatar’ and what challenges are An article is thus included which for acquisition when the Defence Details of the nominations can be likely to be faced in the future. gives an overview of the mod- Acquisition Council (DAC) seen on pages 6 and 7 inside. The Indian Navy is the principal ernisation plans for upgrading approved a three-way competi- As usual this issue ends manifestation of India’s mari- Indian Navy’s presence in the tion among the private sector with the News Digest and Flag time power and aims to govern IOR and the Pacific. The Navy L&T and the public sector Maza- Postings. DefExpo 2020 is being two oceans, the Indian Ocean aims to have a force level of 200 gon Dock Limited and Hindustan held at Lucknow from February as well the Pacific. Thus, the ships, 500 aircraft and 24 attack Shipyard for the $6.3 billion Indian 5-8 and as usual SP Guide Pub- Indian Navy stands as a strong submarines. At present, the Navy Navy programme to build six new lications will have presence. Do pillar in guarding our national has around 132 ships, 220 air- diesel-electric submarines under meet us at Hall 3 Stall Q47 in interest at home and abroad. craft and 15 submarines. In the Project 75 (India). This is a land- case you are there. EDITORIAL The author makes a strong case article on modenisation, IN has mark project aimed at building We wish you discerning for the timely expansion of the the vision of transforming from a up indigenous submarine design readers happy reading and a Indian Navy. Currently the Navy buyer’s navy to a builder’s navy. capability for future programmes. very Happy 2020. has a presence in the IOR in 19 With the centre of gravity of Read all about it in an ‘in-depth’ locations but this has to be aug- conflict veering towards the IOR, analysis of the programme. mented with a stronger presence the requirement of maritime sur- SP Guide Publications is as India’s role in the region is veillance of the Indian Navy is in proud to share that 7 articles by globally recognised and is seen focus. China’s moves to establish our journalists, in four categories, as a protector of the regional bases in the IOR, its nexus with have been shortlisted for finals in order particularly as it pertains to Pakistan including PLA troops the upcoming Aerospace Media maintaining open sea lanes and and marines based in Pakistan Awards - Asia. These are the most the freedom of navigation and indicates China’s aggressive prestigious awards in Aerospace JAYANT BARANWAL picking up the baton of becom- intentions. Thus an article on Media and the number of nomina- Publisher & Editor-in-Chief GRAPHIC: SP’s Design and the Indian Ocean region stands at the center of it. From the Malacca Straits dilemma in the east to penetrating ter- India’s Presence in the Indian Ocean rorism and the brewing middle east crisis Iran Myanmar between the United States and Iran in the (construction of Chabahar (construction of Sittwe Port, west; furthermore, rapid militarisation and Port, submarine training) export of weapons) nuclearisation of the region. These issues are further compounded by weak capacity UAE Thailand (political, economic and military) amongst (cooperation with India’s oil reserves) Bangladesh (joint patrol, Naval training) the littorals to manage their affairs, current (financial aid forA ir Force) situation between in India and Pakistan is a Oman boiling pot; and the most pressing issue of Malaysia (permission for Indian Navy (joint patrol, Air Force all, is the sense of a rising tide of Chinese use of the port of Duqm) training) influence that, it feels, now extends all the way into India’s backyard and beyond its INDIA Singapore extended neighbourhood, especially mak- Seychelles (Indian base on Assumption (joint exercises, joint patrols, ing inroads into vulnerable nations through Island (pending), provision of leasing of training ground) its economic heft and land grab strategies. patrol boats, training) The increasing presence of China’s Peo- Indonesia ple’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in and Mauritius Sri Lanka (joint patrol, repairing of around Indian ocean, coupled with the rise (naval communication facility, (export of patrol fighter jets) boats) of the home-grown Indian Navy and the US provision of patrol boats, training) naval dominance over the global commons, Australia Maldives has brought about a ‘strategic maritime tri- (joint exercises, joint infrastructure (provision of development, security cooperation angle’ in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar (naval communication facility, patrol planes Andaman Nicobar with the US, Japan, France, As Hew Strachan says “Geography permission for Indian Navy and helicopters, Islands (modernisation India and Indonesia etc) shapes Strategy and strategy is the choices use of port) training) of bases) that one makes in the face of constraint”, the current milieu in the IOR is a multi-fac- Reunion Island, France Diego Garcia island, US (UK) Cocos Island, eted interaction of numerous factors and (permission for Indian Navy (permission for Indian Navy Australia India, by virtue of its centrality and strate- use of base) use of base) gic vantage point at the heart of the Indian Ocean Region, though has great leverage, is at the locus of many of the world’s most pressing geopolitical developments. eastward advancement strategy. The Indian sion ready ships and aircrafts will be of view but has also become a staging post Thus, the Indian Navy, which is the Naval forces are playing a more pro-active deployed year-round along critical Sea for India’s HADR efforts.