KARWAR: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissioned INS Vajrakosh, the latest missile and armament base, at the naval base here on Wednesday.
INS Vajrakosh is expected to be at the forefront of providing armament, missiles and related support to the naval ships in Karwar. The establishment has state of the art facilities for stowage, handling, maintenance and preparation of naval armament. The name ‘Vajrakosh’ is derived from the word Vajra, the mythological weapon of Lord Indra.
The crest of the newly commissioned establishment depicts a diamond (symbolising indestructibility) and a thunderbolt (symbolising irresistible force).
Parrikar told reporters that he also reviewed the development of the naval base. Calling the base “ambitious and futuristic,” he said that it was the most modern naval base in the country. The minister also inspected operational activities, including ship-lift operations, at the naval ship repair yard.
Replying to a question posed by Express, Parrikar said, “ Vikramaditya — India’s aircraft carrier — will be back in the sea next week.” Parrikar said INS Vikramaditya was battle-ready, except for a few additions, which would be done soon. “Barak missile is fitted on to the aircraft carrier. Any ship will not be 100 per cent perfect once it sails... but the perfection will be achieved as time goes on,” he said.
About concerns being expressed about dependence on US-built engines to power LCA Tejas, Parrikar said that Kaveri, an indigenously built engine, was not a complete success. “Though we managed to get the technical breakthrough, 100 per cent success was not achieved because of certain material requirement which we could not procure. So we are now developing an engine called Ghatak.”
“Engine development is not easy ... till we develop our own engine, we will import one. I don’t see any reason why we should be worried. LCA, which is developed, has 50-55 per cent indigenous items,” Parrikar added.
The minister said that INS Vikrant was undergoing fitment at the Kochi shipyard. He said the ship will be ready in 2017-18.
Parrikar said that the navy was ready to allow civilian aircraft to operate from the yet-to-be-built airport at the naval base here.
There are many defence airports in the country, he added. “However, nobody is interested to run flights commercially. We will be allowing civilian aircraft to operate from such airports except in times of war or when giving training to young pilots,” he said.
He said that the Coast Guard of India was being strengthened. Deployment of both naval and CGI ships will be increased. He said Karwar naval base is going to be carbon-free soon. “Every pollutant is being treated and it is one of the cleanest facilities,” he added.
