NEW DELHI: Assuring the nation of the capability of the Indian Navy in view of the Chinese Navy's presence in the Indian Ocean region, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said we have the capability to take on any force deployed in the region.
The Chief of Naval Staff was addressing the press in his annual press meet ahead of Navy Day on December 4.
"As far as deployment of the People's Liberation Army (Navy) ships and submarines is concerned, we keep a close eye and we monitor their movement. We have maritime domain awareness of the deployment of PLA (Navy) in the Indian Ocean region," he said.
"They have started deploying their submarines from 2012. The sixth submarine deployment is underway at the moment in the IOR. Their nuclear SSN has been deployed. We have a fairly good idea of the deployment and movement of the PLA Navy."
Rubbishing the claim of Pakistan of pushing Indian submarine clear off its water, he said: "There was no Indian submarine deployed in the area where Pakistan Navy is claiming. As far as repelling submarine of any nation goes, its not an easy task. The claim made by the Pakistan Navy is totally bogus."
Speaking on the indigenous carrier-based aircraft LCA (Navy) -- which is under development, he said: "The present LCA (Navy) does not meet the carrier capability required by the Indian Navy. We will continue to support DRDO and ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) in their efforts to develop a carrier-based fighter aircraft."
LCA (Navy) is the naval version of Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas'.
"We need a carrier-based aircraft in the time-lines of the induction of the aircraft-carrier. We have Mig-29K which operates from Vikramaditya and will operate from Vikrant. We were hoping to operate LCA from these two crafts. We need an alternate aircraft now."
"We are at the moment in the process of identifying what aircraft will meet the carrier requirement. If you look at the world around, there are not many options. I am looking at the next five-to-six years (for induction)," he added.
The Indian Navy is celebrating 2017 as the 'Year of the Submarine Arm'.
"This year would also witness the reincarnation of the new Kalvari which will be commissioned shortly."
In 2017, INS Kalvari -- first of the six Scorpène-class submarines of Project 75 being executed at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai -- which is undergoing final trials, will be commissioned.
The nest five will follow in every nine months thereafter, Lanba said.