Taking It Up A Notch: 56 New Naval Vessels To Be Inducted By Indian Navy To Counter Threats In The Indian Ocean

The government, in wake of the Chinese threat in the Indian ocean, has approved an expansion and upgrade plan for the Indian Navy with 56 new ships and submarines, The Tribune has reported.

“The government has given approval to having 56 ships and submarines. Some of these will replace the existing fleet and include new ships like fleet ships, submarines and mine sweepers.” said Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Navy Staff during a press conference on the eve of Navy day.

Navy day is observed on 4 December to mark the ship-launched attack on Karachi during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

The construction plan of these new ships and submarines would spread across a decade, he said. These will be in addition to the 32 ships and submarine which are, as of now, under construction.

Admiral Lanba said India is the net security provider of the Indian ocean region, which the entire world has focus on. He said India is committed to keeping all traditional and non-traditional threats in the Indian ocean at bay.

The admiral said that India has overwhelming superiority over Pakistan at sea. The admiral claimed that the balance of power was in favour of India in the Indian ocean. Similarly he pointed out that the balance of power in South China Sea is in favour of China.

Admiral Lanba, on a question of China being a big naval power by 2050, said by that time, India will be a world-class navy with 200 ships and 500 aircrafts.