The Navy theme for the coming year is: A Power Packed Force for a Strong Nation.

Very apt, and that is what every Naval officer and other personnel want, and every Indian desires. Fortunately, the Indian Navy has its own design capability, and time and again, the Naval Headquarters has drawn correct and far-reaching plans. Unfortunately, every time, the system has failed to take appropriate action to support them.

The Navy, like the Army and Indian Air Force, needs modern equipment in keeping with the technological developments of the time, and the growing threats from within the neighbourhood.

Of course, with 34 ships and six submarines on order, the Indian Navy is one of the fastest growing naval forces in the world. But on the other hand, it is short of defensive missiles, helicopters, and sensors and weapons for long-range neutralization of threats. The indigenous Dhruv helicopter for instance, which the Navy had planned to induct on some of its ships, is heavier than anticipated.

And acquisition takes time. A top uniformed officer in fact once mentioned to this writer that even if we go through stringent trials to select a system, we are not able to buy it. Occasionally, what the Indian forces select, are acquired by Pakistan or China, who take advantage of the time Indian forces spend on the trial process. Acquisition of thermal imagers by Pakistan and helicopters by China are examples in this regard.

The Indian Navy decided to have a mix of its attack force in both submarines and aircraft carriers. Once this was taken a policy decision, we should have had both in adequate numbers. The Indian Navy neither has a modern aircraft carrier nor a modern submarine, the upgrading of the existing Soviet vintage Kilo class submarines notwithstanding. The process of arming them to the requirements of the Navy is also delayed.

The Indian Navy has a sanction for three aircraft carriers. As the process to build and induct them is long, and significantly, as the Navy should always have at least three aircraft carriers in the high seas, the government should accord sanction for a total of five aircraft carriers – two of them being on routine maintenance.

The process for the second line of submarines, beyond the 6 delayed Scorpenes, should be accelerated. And India should also look for more nuclear submarines, through the indigenous route or on lease/ purchase.

The Navy deserves support from the Government and Parliament.