NEW DELHI: Aiming to induct 150 warships in the next 10 years to guard country’s 7,516-km-long coastline, the the Navy is presently grappling with 20 per cent shortage of officers in its ranks.
In the wake of its strategy to project force beyond borders and to fulfil its duty as the nodal agency for coastal security in the country, the Navy is set to almost double the number of fighting platforms in its flotilla. According to sources, strength of the officers sanctioned by the government is about 10,000, while the force is 20 per cent short of its desired strength. Similarly the strength of sailors is 24 per cent short of the sanctioned strength of nearly 50,000.
“We are undertaking various measures like aggressive publicity campaigns and setting up of an additional service selection board for the recruitment,” the Navy officials told TNIE.
The number of recruited officers is rising gradually, but it will take years before it can attain the full strength.Meanwhile, 50 warships are under construction in various shipyards across the country and abroad.
“These include a Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and three Teg class frigates. The remaining 46 ships are being constructed in various shipyards across the country,” said Navy’s Chief of Material Vice-Admiral G Madhavan.
The first of the Teg class frigates will be commissioned into the Navy in Russia on April 27.