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| Indian Navy Strengthening its Air W |
| Indian Navy Strengthening its Air Warfare Capability
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| INDIA
, 11-December-2014
4:50:50 AM |
| The Indian Navy is working towards a new fleet of aircraft and helicopters for maritime surveillance, electronic warfare and anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, its top commander has said.
According to the naval chief, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, it was imperative to expand its "maritime surveillance footprint to meet operational requirements" with 12 Boeing P-8I long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft, nine yet to be identified medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft and 12 Dornier-228 short range maritime reconnaissance (SRMR) aircraft.
"The induction of these aircraft will provide the Indian Navy with the required surveillance capability in support of our operational roles," Adm. Dhowan told India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview.
At present, Boeing has a contract to supply eight P-8Is, six of which have been delivered on schedule beginning May 2013 and the last two should be in India by mid-2015. There is an option clause for another four aircraft in the existing contract and the navy chief's remarks indicate that this will be exercised.
Sources said that this could happen in the first half of 2015.
The qualitative requirements (QRs) for the MRMR aircraft are being finalized but they would have capabilities similar to the LRMRs except that their range would be shorter. The Dorniers would be used for electronic warfare (EW) to secure one's own communications and disrupt those of an enemy.
Notably, the Indian Navy lacks a modern submarine fleet while the number of possibly hostile submarines in the Indian Ocean has multiplied manifold in recent years.
Accordingly, there is an urgency to strengthen at least the aviation arm with aircraft and helicopters.
On this Navy Day Dec 4, the navy selected the US Sikorsky's multi-role helicopter (MRH), a weaponised platform, for shipboard operations. Twentyfour of these helicopters are to be acquired, including an option for eight more.
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