NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy's deal to procure Rafael Maritime fighter jets for the Indigenous Aircraft carrier is close to being concluded by January, along with the final go-ahead for the construction of three more Scorpene submarines.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of naval Staff on Monday said: "Rafale Marine is at an advanced stage of negotiations and is only one level short of taking it to the Cabinet Committee on Security. Since it is a government-to-government deal, it should not take much time."
Admiral Tripathi was addressing the media at the annual press conference in the national capital, on the eve of the Navy Day.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2023 had given the go-ahead for the procurement of the Rafale-M jets from France to fill the pressing need of aircraft carrier onboard deployment, primarily of INS Vikrant. India Navy at present operates the Russian origin MiG-29K. The Indigenous project LCA Navy is in its development phase.
As far as Scorpene class submarines are concerned, the new project is for the indigenous construction of three more submarines. Under the earlier project, the Indian Navy already has six of these submarines in service.
Both the projects including the Rafael M and three more Scorpene submarines will have a Government to Government (G to G) agreement between India and France.
The Scorpene submarines constructed under Project 75 are also known as Kalvari-class. These diesel-electric submarines are being built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) Shipyard in Mumbai in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.
In next 10 years, the Indian Navy will be commissioning a total of 96 warships and submarines, Admiral Tripathi said, "As of now, 62 ships and one submarine are under construction and one ship will be inducted every month till next year."
The Navy Chief, speaking on the Ship Submersible Nuclear (SSN) submarine said that the government has given a go-ahead for two SSN with the first one expected to join the Service in 2036-37 while the second one in a couple of years of the first one. "The target is to make six such SSNs," he said.
He referred to the recent commissioning of the nuclear weapons-carrying submarine INS Arighaat saying "It has added to the triad-the capability to launch a nuclear warhead from sea, land, air and from under the sea". INS Arighaat is classified as ship submersible ballistic nuclear (SSBN).
As first reported by TNIE the final nod was due this year with the nuclear-powered attack submarines serving as a deterrent for the Chinese Navy's increasing foray into the Indian Ocean Region.
This ambitious project is going to be indigenous. "The submarine will be more than 90% indigenous," sources said.
There are two types of nuclear submarines, SSN and SSBN. SS stands for submersible ship; SSN is a nuclear-powered submarine but carries conventional warheads; and SSBN is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine carrying nuclear warheads.
The Navy Chief, talking about the Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean and the accretion of the platforms into the Pakistan Navy, said that there were structures in place to monitor the presence of Chinese warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean and added the growth Pakistani Navy was aided by China and was surprising in view of the economy of the Western neighbour.
"In the last one year, we have kept a close watch on the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean. We knew who was where and doing what".
"Seas are open to all and all can operate till they are not affecting our security. We have an established structure to monitor who is doing what and where," said Admiral Tripathi.
"We will ensure that there is no impact on us. We are aware of the surprising growth of the Pakistani Navy and their aim to have 50 ships. They have chosen weapons over welfare. Good luck to them," he said.
Several of these Pakistani warships are being made in China or with their help. It is clear that China is interested in bolstering Pakistan. The Admiral referred to eight submarines being made by Pakistan saying "we are tweaking our operational strategy to ensure a counter".
Adding about more inductions into the Indian Navy the Chief said in the month of December only, two ships and a submarine will be commissioned into the force. These include the guided missile destroyer Surat, the last of the four Visakhapatnam class warships - indigenous frigate Nilgiri and Vagsheer, the last of the six Kalvari class submarines.
On the two warships expected to be commissioned in Russia, Admiral Tripathi said: "Tushil will be commissioned this month. It is good to go. It is a powerful ship and has all weapons. Other ship Tamal will be commissioned in the first quarter of next year."
In 2016, India and Russia had firmed up an agreement to build four stealth frigates, two of which were to be constructed at a Russian shipyard whereas the remaining two were to be built at Goa Shipyard.
