Baaz to keep eye on Malacca Strait

Underlining its intent to tighten its grip on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) in the face of an increasing influence of China, India on Tuesday activated its southernmost air base in the Andaman and Nicobar Island – INS Baaz – to keep an eye on economically and strategically important Malacca Strait, many a times strategic cargo for the Asian giant transit through it.

Baaz, literally meaning Eagle, will provide intelligence inputs based on ‘airborne’ maritime surveillance by dominating the Strait of Malacca and 6 degree channel – the waterways are crucial to the interests of many “global and regional powers” including China as most of their trade passes through these sea lines of communication. The naval airbase was commissioned by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island. 

Verma said that the activating INS Baaz in sync with the navy’s plan to augment capabilities in the archipelago, located 650 nautical miles from the Indian mainland. “The Navy has been progressively increasing the number of warships based at Port Blair, under the operational control of the Andaman and Nicobar. More are in the pipeline. Port Blair will be home for amphibious platforms, Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft, as the Navy’s robust acquisition plans progress,” Verma said in his address after opertionalising the base.

Besides the Campbell Bay air station the Government had recently sanctioned numerous steps to fortify infrastructure in the strategically located chain of Islands with forward operating bases in Kamorta (Nicobar Islands) and Diglipur (Andaman) as well. 

With China making an early entry into the IOR on the pretext of fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy needs to  up its level by augmenting its capability in the region and enhance its relation with South East Asian and Asian countries.

Explaining this, Verma said: “The first policy push has been towards enhancing maritime engagement with South East Asian and East Asian countries. Many successful examples abound. Cooperative patrols with nations adjacent to the islands, like Thailand and Indonesia and Navy-to-Navy linkages with comparatively distant ASEAN nations, like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, come instantly to mind.” 

“The geographic disposition of the archipelago, separated as it is by more than 650 nautical miles from our mainland, offers a vital geo-strategic advantage to India. Not only do they provide the nation with a commanding presence in the Bay of Bengal, the islands also serve as our window into East and South East Asia. India’s Look East policy has certainly benefited due to the proximity of this archipelago to many ASEAN states,” added the Navy Chief. Most of these countries have territorial disputes with China and a stronger relations with them are aimed at countering Beijing’ strategy of encircling India under “String of Pearls”.

Naresh Chandra report sparks bureaucratic-armed forces row

The report of Naresh Chandra Task Force on Security has sparked a tussle between the South Block babus and the armed forces. The report has recommended to appoint more uniformed officers in the Defence Ministry to increase their say in national security decision making and to replace civilian Defence Secretary by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as ‘a single source of advice’ for the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister. 

The committee led by former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra lamented that despite the service chiefs and the highly specialized Service Head Quarters’ staff being at their disposal for advice in the management of national security the political establishment is totally relying on the feedback of Defence Ministry civil servants, drawn from diverse backgrounds. 

“According to the report the service headquarters are excluded from the apex structure. The Services have limited access to the political establishment, and can make little or no contribution to national security decision-making,” sources said. To cure the problem, the report suggests posting of more armed forces officers in the ministry, a fact that has not found much acceptance amongst the bureaucracy.

Informed sources told The Sunday Standard, to enhance the status of service Chiefs in decision making processes the Task Force has also recommended the amendments in Business Rules - the “Government of India Allocation of Business Rules” (AoB Rules), and the “Government of India Transaction of Business Rules” (ToB Rules), framed in 1961 under the constitutional powers of the President of India. As per the present arrangement, the three Service Chiefs find no mention in the Business Rules, what is their status and standing vis-à-vis the Defence Secretary – who under the rules is responsible for the “Defence of India and every part thereof?”

“Over the past 64 years, it has become quite clear that the three Service Chiefs are to be accorded the courtesies due to their rank and position, and allowed to administer and operationally deploy their respective Services. However, since they have no locus standi as per Business Rules, their input to the decision-making of the four MoD Departments remain marginal.

“So much so, that the Secretary Department of Defence is deemed to represent the three Services in most forums, and the Departments of DRDO as well as Defence Production need not seek or abide by their advice,” sources added.

With India inching towards completing its nuclear triad and acquiring strategic weapons like inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V, the criticality of the post of CDS – the Chief’s of the three service chiefs – has increased. As per the report, the CDS will have direct access to the Defence Minister rather than channeling his advice through the Defence Secretary.

“The present system of Chairman CoSC (Chiefs of Staff Committee) is not working well. As the senior-most among the three Chiefs take over as CoSC Chairman he is at the helm of affairs from one to 20 months depending on his residual service.

“In the coming times CoSC will become important in the Chain of command for nuclear weapons; and hence the urgency for CDS,” sources added. In order to iron out the objections raised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) opposing the move, the report suggests appointing the seniormost Chief among the three services to be appointed as CDS and his immediate junior be handed over the rein of that service.

The Government had in June 2011, appointed the Naresh Chandra Committee, and comprising of former defence officers like Admiral Arun Prakash, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy and former Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen VR Raghvan and bureaucrats like Brajeshwar and Vinod K Dugga, to revisit the defence reforms process and the report of the committee was recently submitted the Prime Minister. The report has been circulated to the various concerned ministries and finally it would be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). A public version of the report is likely to be made available soon for an open discourse, sources indicated.

Toilet Vs Rafale Fighter jets!

Taking a dig at the government’s spending policy, Minister for Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said that more than 1000 villages in the country can be freed of the scourge of open defecation at the cost of less than a Rafale fighter jet. 

 



Ramesh’s latest comment came on the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and his ministry for eco-friendly toilets based on bio-digesters. These bio-toilets will be installed across the country in three phases and Ramesh’s ministry has allocated Rs. 150 crore for each of the phases, which is less than the cost of one French Rafale jet that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has chosen for its inventory. The IAF will be buying 126 of these fighter jets at an estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crore that makes cost of one Rafale to be roughly around Rs. 450 crore, the cost of all three phases.

Ramesh described India as world capital in ‘Open Defecation’ with 60 percent of total open defecation happening in the country. “We can make 1000 villages free from open defecation at the cost less than that of one Rafale,” Ramesh said while setting the target of making country free from the problem in the next 10 years.

Even as Defence Minister AK Antony was present at the function, Ramesh went on to say that while total spending on the defence is more that Rs 1.93 lakh crore, while the budgetary support for his Rural Development Ministry is half of it.

Talking about DRDO’s contribution to the sanitation drive, Defence Minister AK Antony commented: “Seventy per cent of the people in India reside in rural areas and are deprived of proper sanitation facilities. Bio-Digester which is a spin-off from the DRDO technology is now being intelligently implemented for societal benefit. This technology is not just eco-friendly but is also cost effective and DRDO will try to further reduce the cost.”

Bio-Digesters were developed as DRDO’s efforts to make eco-friendly toilets for high-altitude regions like Siachen Glacier so that the long deployment of the troops does not affect the environment. The high altitude eco-friendly toilet cost around Rs. 2.2 lakh but the toilets meant for mass use cost less than Rs. 17,000.

Rural Development Ministry has also offered the Indian Railways to install the DRDO-built bio-toilets in all new coaches and to share half the cost of retrofitting existing 50,000 coaches in the next four to five years. He informed that the whole project will cost about 500 crore rupees and offered to share the burden on a 50-50 basis with the Railways.

Marcos get a new skin (pics)

The Indian Navy's deadly Marine Commados - India's reply to American marines -  have got a new skin with a new camouflaged uniform. They were spotted at the commissioning of the INS Sahyadri.

Here are some pics

Photos courtesy Gautam Datt

India's southernmost airbase in Nicobar to get commissioned on July 31

Admiral Nirmal Verma is going to commission the southernmost Campbell Bay Naval Air Station INS Baaz on the Campbell Bay Island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago overlooking the important Strait of Malacca. The air base has come in the wake of the increasing influence of China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Carnicobar airstrip

Statement by the Navy

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a fine example of how development and security needs can be taken ahead, promoting growth and safety, whilst contributing substantially to the larger interests of the country.  The well being and prosperity of these islands and her inhabitants, coupled with safeguarding vital national interests is indeed the way ahead.

Towards this, Naval Air Station, Campbell Bay, will be commissioned as Indian Naval Ship Baaz  on 31 Jul 12 by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma.

The Government of India recognised the need for an outpost in the Great Nicobar Island chain as long back as 1978 when plans were set rolling for a Naval Air Station at Campbell Bay.   In 1981 the construction of a small runway commenced.   The Island was brought onto the air map of India serving as a rudimentary hub for air transportation, and, with great promise for development and capability accretion, when Admiral JG Nadkarni, the then CNS, inaugurated the Forward Operating Base on 04 May 1998. 

From operations by the venerable Britten Norman Islander of the Indian Navy in those early years, the Forward Operating Base has since played hosts to the Dornier aircraft operated by the Indian Navy, IAF and the Coast Guard; the AN 32 transport aircraft and Mi 8 helicopters of the IAF; and by Dauphin helicopters operated by Pawan Hans Limited.  The crucial role of the Air Station in support of these remote islands was demonstrated when the islands were devastated by the Tsunami in 2004.

Commissioning of INS Baaz furthers the commitment of the Government of India to augmentation of the infrastructure, capabilities and capacities in these strategic islands, overseeing the security of the islands and the vast EEZ in these vital seas.  The busy sea-lanes that lie off these Southern shores connect the West and the East.  These sea lines of communication are crucial for security at sea, and, in ensuring freedom of navigation, so vital for the economic well being of nations and the world.

The commissioning is a significant step as the Government of India has accepted the necessity to expand the runway and to add to facilities at the remote air station.  The commissioning would be followed up by extension of the runway, such that the base can support and serve a wider variety of aircraft.

With this seminal event, when NAS Campbell Bay spreads her wings as INS Baaz, ANC grows from being an experiment to an inspiration.

IAF to give chance to private players in aircraft manufacturing

 

For the first time going beyond the domestic aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and to give impetus to domestic aviation industry, the Defence Ministry on Monday decided to opt for a foreign vendor that can partner with even private players to manufacture 56 transport aircraft.

 

The decision was cleared at the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by Defence Minister AK Antony. The decision will help the Indian Air Force (IAF) to explore options beyond the over-burdened public sector undertaking HAL that has long been facing complaints of delays and quality control issues.

According to sources, “A tender for the acquisition of these 56 aircraft will soon be issued. As per the tender provisions it will be mandatory for the foreign vendors to select an Indian partner from public or private sector.” The tender valuing around Rs. 12,000 crore will be issued under ‘Buy and Make India’ category of the Defence Procurement Procedures.

As per the proposal approved by the DAC, 16 of these aircraft will be purchased in fly-away condition from the foreign vendor, the next 16 will have 30 percent indigenous components and the last 24 will be 60 percent indigenized. The first of the 56 aircraft set to replace the Avro transport aircraft in the IAF will be delivered four years after the signing of the contract.

The decision has opened doors for private sector players like Tata, Mahindra and Reliance, which can form a consortium with the foreign vendors. The IAF has been keen on giving a chance to the private players to develop an alternative to the HAL.

In the recent times, the government has also taken cognizance of the IAF’s complaints regarding the delayed delivery of equipment by the HAL.  There have been delays in some projects like the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) Hawk; delay in establishing the facilities for complex engine components and radar software in respect of SU-30 MKI fighter jets, delay in certification of Shakti engine by the Original Equipment Manufacturer in respect of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), changes in Standard of Preparation (SOP) in respect of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and delay in development of engine for Intermediate Jet Trainer.

US woos India to get larger share in defence market

After its new military strategy for Asia-Pacific was received with apprehensions in India, the US on Monday went all out to woo New Delhi to step up bilateral defence trade and cooperation.

US Deputy Defense Secretary Dr Ashton Carter, who was visiting India as a point person of US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, underlined the US commitment for Indian military’s modernization and pitched New Delhi to purchase highest quality military equipment from Washington.

“As a country committed to enduring peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, India deserves the best military equipment available. And we are prepared to help. We want to be India’s highest-quality and most trusted long-term supplier of technology in such fields as maritime domain awareness, counter terrorism and many others,” Carter said at the function of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).  

Without naming Russia that has been one of the biggest co-developer of India in various military projects, the US also offered to step up military ties between the two countries to cooperation with joint ventures in important projects. “We can conduct research and co-develop technologies together – like batteries and micro UAVs – good initial steps, with much more to come,” said Carter.

In the last ten years, the Indo-US defence trade has been worth $ 10 billion and in 2011 only India has purchased military equipments worth more than $ 4.5 billion. Carter, in fact, added that government to government purchases from the US is in India’s strategic and commercial interests.

Sidestepping the controversial issues of the US continuing aid to Pakistan and it propping India as a counter to China in the region, Carter contended that the US strategy to deploy 60 percent of its military assets in the Asia-Pacific region by 2020 has nothing to do with China’s rise. “Our re-balance is not about China or the United States or India or any other single country or group of countries: It is about a peaceful Asia-Pacific region, where sovereign states can enjoy the benefits of security and continue to prosper,” Carter added.

In a bid to woo Indian defence establishment further, Carter said that the US is addressing India’s concerns on the US Export Controls and Technology security policies. Trying to mollify the Indian defence establishment that alleged that the removal of DRDO and ISRO off the Commerce Department Entity List was merely on papers, Carter said: “We have an export control system to prevent high-end technology from getting to states that should not have it, but our system can be confusing, rigid and controls too many items for the wrong reasons. We know we need to improve it.”

India to float RFP for 56 transporters to replace Avros

To give a boost to manufacturing of transport aircraft in the country, the Defence Acquisition Council today gave a green signal for acquisition of 56 transport aircraft to replace Avro aircraft. RfP will be issued under 'Buy and Make' Indian to foreign vendors. The RfP will make it mandatory for them to select an Indian partner from public or private sector. Sixteen of these will be obtained in flyway condition. The next 16 will have 30 percent indigenous components and last 24 will have 60 percent indigenisation. 

The first of the aircraft will be delivered four years after signing of the deal.

DRDO’s lab enters Limca records for growing veggies at frigid heights

The premier defence research body Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) laboratory has entered the Limca book of records for making the production of 78 varieties of vegetables at the frigid heights of Ladakh. 

 

Me at the Partapur extension of the DIHAR lab

 

Known as cold desert, Ladakh’s climate has not been suitable to agriculture and horticulture. Till 20 years back only 4-5 types of vegetables were grown in this region located at around 11,500 feet above sea level. Then Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) was mandated to undertake research so that troops located in Ladakh and Siachen can be provided with fresh vegetables and fruits.

“We have entered the Limca book of records and the record is based on three distinctions. First is that DIHAR is the world’s highest laboratory working on Agro-Animal technology. And secondly we have been able to grow large sizes of vegetables like 5 kg potato. And in the end we have been able to grow 78 types of vegetables in on season and in one field,” DIHAR’s director Dr RB Srivastava told Defence Express.

DIHAR is now eyeing to enter the Guinness book by taking the number of vegetables grown in the region from 78 to 100. 

“Our research and modification of vegetables and fruits have been really successful. Today we are able to meet 51 percent of the requirements of the troops posted here. Annually the troops require 5,000 metric tonnes of vegetables annually. The rest of the ration supply has to be fetched from Chandigarh at enormous cost,” Srivastava added. The transportation cost to get one kg tomato from Chandigarh to Leh is more than Rs. 100 and by the time it reaches final destination many a times it might not be palatable.

The scientists at DIHAR laboratory work on these technologies and then give it out to local farmers. “We impart knowledge about agriculture techniques to local farmer who then supply it to the army troops. In this way DIHAR is also contributing to the socio-economy of the region,” Srivastava added.

The DIHAR headquarters in Leh district and in its attachment at Partapur yearly give about 20,000 trees to local people for plantation. But due to the extreme climatic conditions, which see the mercury plummeting to minus 50 degrees Celsius, their survival rate is abysmal.

Sahyadri commissioning in pics

We have no money for strategic rail lines: Antony

At the commissioning of INS Sahyadri Defence Minister AK Antony got candid and accepted that his ministry does not have money to spare for the construction of strategic railway lines along the northern and north-eastern borders along the Indo-China border. Adding that even Indian Railways did not have funds for it, Antony exhorted the government should take up the cause in the interest of the country.

“Railway has no money. We also do not have any money,” Antony said candidly.

“We have informed the government that this project should be taken up by the government as it strategically very important,” the Defence Minister added.

As reported earlier (China reaches at India's doorsteps ) even as China was building rail and road network along its side of the border at a fast pace, the Indian government is still deliberating on the idea of who will finance the construction of these 14 strategic lines. The Defence Ministry then proposed to construct six high priority strategic lines bordering China at the cost of Rs. 80,000 crore. However, the Finance Ministry has refused to cough even that for “commercially non-viable” rail lines.

Lethal threesome to strike fear in enemy’s heart

(Will be uploading pics of the events soon)

On board INS Sahyadri: The troika of indigenous stealth frigates – INS Shivalik, INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri – got completed with the commissioning of the last warship in the class and together in the Eastern theatre they will strike fear in the heart of the enemy on the eastern sea board.

 

Named after the mountain ranges of the country – the last of the three stealth frigates Sahyadri was commissioned on Saturday by Defence Minister AK Antony here. The two of the class are already adding might to India’s muscle on the eastern coast as China becomes more assertive in the South China Sea and in the Indian Ocean Region.

Sahyadri is the third of its kind to be in the country at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Ltd under Project 17 and wound remain the mainstay of the Indian Navy for the first half of the century. Meanwhile, the stealth features, weapon array and design of the warship has earned acclaim at the international level as the leading vessel of the class INS Shivalik went on a long deployment to West Pacific region and did port calls to countries like Japan and China.

“INS Sahyadri will be deployed in the eastern fleet and Satpura will also go there eventually,” a naval official said. The Indian Navy for years had the western naval command stationed at Mumbai as its “sword arm” but it has been building its assets in the eastern theatre gradually with rising concerns about the presence of the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean Region. The lone aircraft carrier of the navy INS Virat is in the western fleet, now the force is looking forward to operate two aircraft carriers in both the regions.

This came even as the Defence Minister called for freedom of navigation through the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) in the South China Sea. “In South China Sea our role is limited. But there should be unhindered passage to all the ships in international water. At the same time issues between countries should be sorted out by dialogue, discussion and persuasion, without any confrontation,” Antony added. The ship will be commanded by Captain RK Vatsyayan. The first ship of the class INS Shivalik was commissioned 2010 and INS Satpura in 2011

The frigate is conceived, designed and constructed indigenously will considerably boost the capabilities of the Indian Navy in the eastern theatre. A stealth warship is designed to have low signatures so that they remain undetected to enemy electronic sensors of other navies. It’s shape is designed to evade detection by radar; it is engineered to give off minimal infra-red (IR) emissions; and every piece of equipment on board, from engines to toilet flushes, are designed to work silently so that the ship cannot be heard by the enemy’s sonar and acoustic sensors. This stealth will allow the INS Sahyadri to reach near enemy positions undetected and inflict maximum damage.

Sahyadri is equipped with a mix of imported and indigenous weapon systems and sensors, including Barak surface-to-air and Russian Klub cruise missiles, 'shtil' air defence system, rapid fire guns, basic anti-submarine warfare weapons and two helicopters.

The ships also have the indigenous Kavach chaff-dispensing system to counter incoming missiles, as also indigenous sonars and anti-submarine warfare systems.

With the completion of the Project-17, path is clear for the follow-on construction of seven more warships under the Project 17-A. Antony said: “The Contract Negotiation for Project 17-A is on and as and when it’s over we will send it for CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) approval.” Four of these warships will be constructed by MDL and the rest three will be manufactured at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). The project which has already been running several years behind the schedule will entail a cost of over Rs 2,200 crore for each ship.

The warships under Projec-17 A will have stealthier features and it will be equipped with BrahMos Supersonic cruise missiles and Barak NG missiles. The warships will have ‘flushed’ decks with weapons beneath the surface to reduce signature on radars.

Glimpses from INS Sahyadri commissioning at Mumbai

No place for women in Indian Navy's IT brigade

The armed forces opposition to induct women in combat role has been well established, but the Indian Navy has shut doors for women even in Information Technology (IT) field. The latest IT brigade to be raised by the Indian Navy to counter Chinese threat in the cyber world has no place for women. 

 First women observers of the Indian Navy (File Photo)

On July 12, the Indian Navy gave out full page advertisements in the national newspapers calling application from male computer engineers to join the specialized IT brigade, to be trained at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala (Kerala). The advertisement did not invite applications from women computerengineers. However, for Indian Navy it is only logical.

"In this IT cadre officers will be required to be deployed on board ships and as per Navy policy no women officers could be posted on board a warship," Indian Navy official said when called to comment on it.

The first batch of the IT cadre that will commence its training in December this year will be Short Service Commission Officers and would be deployed on board warships and various sensitive establishments on shore to manage and secure the network in the organization.

Even though the armed forces inducted women officers in its ranks in 1992, they could serve only for 14 years and had to retire in their prime without any pension benefits. Unlike their male counterparts, they did not have the option of opting for Permanent Commission. It was only few years back after a long fight that the forces decided to make women permanent officers in the legal, education, accounts and naval constructor branches.

Similar to the Indian Air Force (IAF) resistance to women officers as fighter pilots and Indian Army's opposition to the women in combat roles, the Indian Navy has been against deploying women onboard warships citing design problems with its ships and submarines - the principal one being lack of separate toilets. In fact the Indian Navy had taken an initial experiment project where it posted some women officers on board warships and said it failed to take off in the absence of accommodation facilities. In contrast to this, the US Navy even has women officers Commanding their warships and even conservative countries like Malaysia also have women officers serving onboard their naval platforms.

The Indian Navy, which recently inducted women officers as "observers" (Navigator in layman's term), still does not have any women pilots for its helicopters and aircraft, unlike other two services. The present strength of women officers in the Indian Navy is 232.

China reaches at India’s doorsteps with strategic rails

Even as Indian defence mandarins are tethering to give a go ahead to the construction of strategic railway lines at the Sino-Indian border, the dragon is working at a feverish pitch to get railway lines passing through Aksai Chin and lending right at India’s doorsteps.

When the Indian government is deliberating on the idea of who will finance the construction of 14 strategic railway lines in the inhospitable and inaccessible regions of Ladakh and North-eastern, China has started work on extending its railway line from Lhasa – the capital city of Tibet – to cities near the Sino-Indian border at a huge economic cost. Slicing through the geographical barriers, the railway line will cut the time taken for Chinese troop mobilization by half.

As per the intelligence gathered by the Indian armed forces the two lines connecting Lhasa to Yatung (a major trading town just about 30 kms from Sino-Indian border) and to Linzhi (about 70-80 kms from the border) will be complete by 2017. Yatung is situated at the mouth of the Chumbi valley and is connected to the Indian state of Sikkim via the Nathula pass.

“Work on two other proposed railway lines from Lhasa to Khasa near Nepal border and Kashghar in Aksai Chin will begin soon,” sources told The Sunday Standard. According to expert, this development will further tilt the strategic advantage in China’s favour as it gets cozy with the communist government of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and strengthen its foothold in Aksai Chin, a territory claimed by India as its own.  The rail link to Khasa is likely to be aligned with the Friendship Highway from Shigatse to Khasa, and further till Kathmandu.

On the Indian side, the Finance Ministry is struggling to shell out Rs. 80,000 crore to construct six high priority strategic lines bordering China. 

Coupled with this, China has been sprucing its Western, Eastern and Central highways. The 1900 km long Western Highway goes from Lhasa to Aksai Chin after running parallel to Nepal Border. The Central Highway from Golmud to Lhasa and the Eastern Highway from Kunming to Lhasa is also being upgraded to make the mobilization faster.

“The completion of rail and road networks will help Chinese in using a combination of air-road and rail network to transport troops and material from the interiors to the border areas at a faster pace, raising concerns for India,” sources added.

While the red tape is stalling the growth of infrastructure on Indian side, the Army has taken possible measures to counter the strategic leverage gained by China. “For us mobilizing troops at a faster pace will be difficult owing to the sloppy infrastructure. Keeping this in view we are bolstering our presence in the forward areas by taking our men towards the border,” said Indian Army officials.

Coastal radar chain to get operationalise

Nearly five years after Mumbai terror attacks brought out the glaring gaps in the coastal security of the country, the first two radars in the chain along the 7,516km-long shoreline will become operationalise in August. Thereafter 44 more radars will become operational bringing every inch of Indian maritime territory under electronic surveillance.

 

 

 

This innermost ring of coastal security, involving operationalisation of about 46 coastal radars in the Phase-I will take another year and then the Phase-II will see the number of radars going up to 110. The shore-based surveillance network will be equipped with radars, cameras and other sensors mounted atop lighthouses. With a range of about 80 miles this chain will boost the electronic surveillance capability of the force – to indentify any rogue ship approaching the Indian coast.

According to sources, the first two radars will be inaugurated by Defence Minister AK Antony in mid-August in Gujarat and Mumbai. The chain of costal radars was first envisaged in 2001 by a Group of Ministers. However, it only got the sense of urgency after 10 armed gunmen landed on the shores of Mumbai undetected and wrecked mayhem.

The coastal radar chain will come at a cost of Rs. 600 crore. The chain will also include the island territories of the country namely – the Andaman and Nicobal Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands. The radars will be feeding in the information to the Joint Operation Centres (JOC) set up in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair. The JOC at any point of time will have the real time information about the ships crossing the maritime region around the country along with complete history of the vessel.

Without these radars, the coastal security forces – navy, coast guard and marine police – have been ‘blind’ as depicted by an abandoned ship MV Pavit landing on Mumbai shore in 2011.

Along with this as part of the second layer of electronic maritime surveillance Automated Identification Stations with a range of 150 miles will also be set up. For it to function, transponders will be put on all boats of fishermen. The third and outermost layer consists of satellite-based Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) that can keep an eye on any vessel transcending through waters about 1000 miles from Indian coastline.

These three layers of data will be sent to the National Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence Network that will create real-time maritime domain awareness as it will also be linked to the operations rooms of the Navy and coast guard.