- 7 weeks ago
Ahead of Navy Day 2025, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, detailed the Indian Navy's operational readiness and strategic successes. He highlighted 'Operation Sindoor', the response to the April 2025 'Belgaum terror attack', stating the "unprecedented mobilization" of over 30 ships and a carrier battle group compelled the Pakistan Navy to remain near its coast, pressing for a ceasefire. The address also noted the growing capabilities of the Chinese Navy, whose intent was described as unclear, and concerns over Turkey-Pakistan collusion on UAVs. Swaminathan emphasized the induction of 11 new ships this year, part of a target for a 170-plus ship fleet. This expansion aligns with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission, focusing on indigenisation, integrating new technologies like UAVs, and fostering synergy among India's armed forces.
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00:00:00Vice-Admin Raag Mukhechi, Vice-Admin Nanktu Sharma, Director of General Naval Projects Mumbai
00:00:07Rear-Admin Ajay Patni, Admiral Superintendent of Naval Talk Yacht
00:00:11Rear-Admin Shantino Jha, Flag Officer of Maharashtra Naval Area
00:00:15We've got several Flag Officers, Commanding Officers, Officers in Charge of various naval units
00:00:21And of course all of them are with me to be with you for this media interaction
00:00:26Let me begin by exchanging to all of you a very warm welcome to the Navy Day Press Conference
00:00:31In this splendid value, like I've been explained to you, it's called Sumeru
00:00:35This of course was commissioned in 22nd of November by the Chief of the Naval Staff
00:00:40I also take this opportunity to wish all of you and through you all the citizens of India
00:00:45A very happy Navy Day, 2025 in advance
00:00:49Of course as has been the normal SOP, let me make a statement
00:00:53It's not so brief, it covers everything that the Vesendival Command has done over the past one year
00:00:59And give you a favour of what we've done and why is that relevant
00:01:03So and then of course I'd be happy to take your questions
00:01:06Ladies and gentlemen, as the world of course grapples with geopolitical uncertainty and floods
00:01:11National security environments are characterised by unpredictability and volatility
00:01:16And the global economic environment is challenged by protectionism, stagnation and military conflict
00:01:23India stands apart as a nation that is determined to continue its march towards national development, resurgence, consolidation, growth and transformation
00:01:34The Indian Armed Forces of course will no doubt play its side road in this journey
00:01:39On this Navy Day, the Indian Navy stands up as a forward-looking and rapidly transformation
00:01:46The Indian Navy has been on the 4th of December every year
00:01:49To commemorate the daring missile attacks that left Karachi ablaze
00:01:54And destroyed several enemy warships in the 1971 India-Pakistan War
00:02:11On this day we not only relive that glorious chapter in the history of the Indian Navy
00:02:17But also express our deep gratitude to and salute the supreme sacrifice made by our brave predecessors in service of the nation
00:02:27This is also a day on which we introspect deeply
00:02:31And we dedicate ourselves to securing our national maritime interests
00:02:35From the increasing number of threats and challenges that face us today
00:02:40The importance of the maritime premiere of course remains undiminished in the prevailing security environment
00:02:46And has a direct bearing on the economic prosperity and overall development of our country
00:02:51Despite external aggression and internal challenges
00:02:57India continues to be a beacon of stability and prosperity
00:03:01Because of the maritime security that it enjoys
00:03:04As we march in unison to realize a collective aspiration of becoming with Sid Bharat by 2047
00:03:11It is important that we continue ensuring effective maritime security in the Indian Ocean region
00:03:16So that we make our nation stronger, more resilient and more self-confident in the coming decades
00:03:23This has been said many times before but it is important to say once again on DVD
00:03:28There is no doubt that our economic prosperity, strategic independence and comprehensive national power
00:03:34Are deeply intertwined with the seas and therefore it is imperative that we closely monitor the multiplicity of trends, threats and challenges
00:03:43In the geopolitical and geoeconomic environment and secure our nation and its people effectively
00:03:49Over the last one year, the Indian Navy has been deployed extensively across the full spectrum of naval operations
00:03:58As the Commander-in-Chief, it gives me immense satisfaction to inform you
00:04:01That frontline ships, submarine in the aircraft of the Western Naval Command
00:04:06Have been centred to this effort
00:04:08Our focus on combat readiness, ordnance centricity, technical maintenance and indigenization
00:04:14has been a vital enabler in this regard
00:04:19The near-continuous presence of our units on mission-based deployments across our areas of interest
00:04:26Continues to contribute to peace and stability in our neighbourhood
00:04:31And strengthen the Indian Navy's position as first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region
00:04:39Within a couple of hours of the devastating cyclone Ditwa hitting the Sri Lankan coast for instance
00:04:44Mission deployed Vikrant and Kundalini and their fleet of helicopters were pressed into action to provide assistance and relief material to that country
00:04:53This is just yet another example of how your Navy responds and contributes not just to nation-building
00:05:00but also to forging deeper bonds with our partners and friends in the immediate neighbourhood
00:05:07In the year gone by, the operational tempo of the Indian Navy has remained very high
00:05:12The Western Naval Command in particular conducted many operations successfully
00:05:16in close coordination with other services and security agencies
00:05:21To begin with, the largest theatre-level operational readiness exercise, which was the tropics
00:05:27was conducted from January to March of 2025
00:05:30with a total of 67 ships, 10 submarines and more than 90 aircraft participating in it
00:05:38The exercise of sustained operations with platforms at sea, large-scale mobilization of assets
00:05:44and forward deployment of aircraft and uncrude systems
00:05:48This, of course, was followed soon by Operation Sindur
00:05:52that was executed by the Indian Armed Forces in the backdrop
00:05:55of the darsely terrorist attacks at Behelgaard in April 25
00:05:59Operation Sindur saw an unprecedented mobilization of over 30 ships and submarines
00:06:06within a very short period
00:06:08during which a front-line ship was poised for combat of the Makran coast
00:06:13under the umbrella of the Vikrant Tariya Bajibur
00:06:16The offensive deployment and porturing of the Navy also included a series of successful weapon
00:06:23fireings in April and forced the Pakistani Navy to remain close to its own coast
00:06:29In fact, the threat of offensive action by the Indian Navy could be considered one of the important factors
00:06:35in Pakistan requesting for a ceasefire
00:06:37Ladies and gentlemen, there there be no doubt, Operation Sindur is ongoing
00:06:43and the Indian Navy and the Western Naval Command stand ready in all respects
00:06:47to undertake any mission in support of the National Maritime Interest
00:06:52A natural outcome of Operation Sindur has been the effort of the three services
00:06:59to strengthen jointness and integration
00:07:02of Exercise Trishun conducted by the Western Naval Command in close coordination
00:07:07with the Southern Army Command and the South Western Air Command
00:07:11provided us valuable lessons in identifying capability gaps, stream-banging SOPs
00:07:16and generating joint effects on the battlefield
00:07:20Exercise also witnessed seamless integration of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division
00:07:27Defense Base and Cyber Agencies, the Coast Guard and the Border Security Force
00:07:33With over 35,000 troops of the Indian Army and over 500 vehicles including tanks and BMPs
00:07:39over 25 ships and submarines of the Indian Navy and over 50 aircraft from the Indian Air Force
00:07:46this exercise has been extremely successful in meeting its objectives
00:07:50that was set for it by the three services
00:07:54Meanwhile, non-traditional threats such as maritime terrorism, piracy, robbery,
00:08:01illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and trafficking of humans, drugs and arms
00:08:08continue to be on the rise and necessitate the Indian Navy to continue in adopting a comprehensive approach
00:08:15in dealing with maritime security
00:08:18The Western Naval Command remains deeply invested in countering these threats
00:08:22by deploying its platforms under the overall umbrella of Operation Sanjay
00:08:27that caters for anti-piracy, anti-narcotics and countering threats emanating from attacks on our innocent seafarers
00:08:35In the last two years, a total of 41 anti-piracy deployments have been undertaken
00:08:42with more than 180 personnel rescued, 8 piracy attacks tortured, 62 pirates apprehended
00:08:49and safe passage provided to over 125 million metric tons of cargo bound for Indian ports
00:08:56They have also been successful in an approach to anti-narcotics operations
00:08:59with close to 7,000 kgs of narcotics worth over 40,000 crores seized since February 2024
00:09:08Of these, Anis Tarkash, the front-line fix of the Western Fleet seized 2,500 kgs on 31 March 2025 alone
00:09:17In a diplomatic pursuit, the Western Naval Command engaged actively with several friendly foreign navies
00:09:24and continued to foster cooperation and deeper bonds in coincidence with the national security and foreign policy objectives
00:09:32Two major initiatives are the Indian Navy and the Western Naval Command are of importance for the uniqueness
00:09:39The first was the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement Require, which is also a Sanskrit word that stands for unity
00:09:48This was conducted jointly by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Navy, which were the hosts on behalf of the African nations
00:09:54in April this year and saw the participation of 10 African countries
00:09:59It also included a Defence Expo in the harbour that showcased our indigenous technologies and products
00:10:06and culminated in an exercise at sea
00:10:09The second was the deployment of Irish Unayna as Indian Ocean Ship Sagar from April to May 25
00:10:16with a combined crew of 44 personnel belonging to 9 different friendly foreign countries
00:10:21Both of these initiatives expanded the scale and scope of our engagement with the littorals of the Indian Ocean region
00:10:27and enhanced our credibility as a preferred security partner
00:10:31Apart from all of these, Exercise Baruna with the French Navy and the Carrier Strike Group in March
00:10:40Exercise with UNAR4 ships in May 25
00:10:44Exercise Brightstar with the Egyptian Navy in September
00:10:47Exercise Bunkundu with the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group
00:10:51and the maiden bilateral exercise with the Hellenic Navy in October
00:10:55All of these expanded our maritime footprint far beyond our shores and deepened our engagement with these nations
00:11:02The Indian Navy became an active member of the Combine Maritime Force in November 2023
00:11:08Since then, our ships have participated in 10 missions and our aircraft have flown over 20 sorties as part of the CMF
00:11:15Based on requests from other nations, we also deploy our assets for joint surveillance and patrol of littoral navy to the nations
00:11:24We also remain engaged with other nations by providing focused naval training and capacity building through transfer of military equipment
00:11:31We are also working closely with other navies to enhance the maritime capabilities by gifting them Indian-made ships and draft
00:11:39The Indian Navy is also a preferred security partner for hydrographic cooperation
00:11:45wherein our ships provide assistance to a number of countries in conducting hydrographic surveys
00:11:50Over the past decade, there have been increasing instances of natural disasters and regional instabilities
00:12:00necessitating increased deployment of the Indian Navy for HADR and non-combatant evacuation operations
00:12:07For instance, our ships were standing by to evacuate Indian nationals in June 25 from Iran and Israel in the backdrop of the short conflict between the two nations
00:12:18As brought up earlier, Operation Sarkar Bandhu in Sri Lanka is a real-time example of our ability to respond and support our neighbours and partners in their hour of need
00:12:31The Indian Navy has also consistently provided assistance to merchant ships in distress at sea
00:12:38The recent instances of firefighting assistance provided to merchant ships in Banghai on 9th of June of the Kerala coast
00:12:45including evacuation of personnel
00:12:49Merchant vessel Yi Sheikh 6 of the Oman coast on 29th June
00:12:55Merchant tanks of Falcon on 20th October 25 are examples of our ability to respond effectively and help sea-farers regardless of nationalities
00:13:05Many of our operations have been formally acknowledged
00:13:12The latest being recognized by the IMO for INS-T for rescuing 9th Indian crew from Gapsai Stanker Prestige Falcon in July 2024
00:13:20These successful missions have underscored the position of the Indian Navy as the first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region
00:13:30In addition to our military and diplomatic roles, Postal Security continued to occupy a place of high importance for us
00:13:39The Western Neville Command worked closely with the Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police and other agencies
00:13:46and conducted Postal Security exercises regularly along all Postal States and Postal Union territories under its jurisdiction
00:13:53My rendezvous this year has been to enhance inter-agency coordination, consolidate the multi-layer system of surveillance
00:14:02and improve standard operating procedures among all agencies involved in the Postal Union area
00:14:08In this regard, it may interest you that the National Mal-Time-Away Awareness Project sanctioned by the CCS in 2022
00:14:16will enhance information sharing and coordination amongst all the principal Maritime stakeholders
00:14:23This project, steered by the Indian Navy, seeks to facilitate collation of data held with 7 ministries and over 15 agencies
00:14:31at the NMDA Centre for Guru Graal and its dissemination to relevant agencies for enhanced situation of awareness in the maritime domain
00:14:41Contracts for the NMDA project have been concluded on the 8th of July 2025
00:14:48and as per CCS approved timelines, may be expected to be completed by end 2027
00:14:56The Indian Navy also spearheads efforts to strengthen Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission by focusing on indigenization
00:15:06Indian shipyards have delivered more than 40 ships and submarines in the past decade
00:15:11This year alone we have commissioned 11 ships and presently we have 51 ships under construction in various Indian shipyards
00:15:20The indigenous content of our ships has also increased steadily to 90% in the fluid segment, 60% in the move segment and over 50% in the fight segment
00:15:33In addition, the Indian Navy is proactively pursuing 5 positive indigenization lists that have been promulgated by the Ministry of Defence
00:15:40Through the Directive of Indigenization and Naval Headquarters and Indigenization Units and Command Headquarters
00:15:48218 of the 519 items from the list are being pursued by the Navy alone
00:15:54And of these, AON has been awarded for 111 items of which 16 have been contracted for many
00:16:01As far as innovation goes, Swabalampan has been a flagship program since 2022
00:16:09that brings together talent from across the country, comprising academia, start-ups, MSMEs, technocrats and the industry at large
00:16:20Swabalampan has expanded our technical outreach significantly by engaging over 150 MSMEs and start-ups through 198 challenges
00:16:32resulting in the accord of 28 AON's worth increase 2,750 Crores
00:16:39The fact that the Indian Navy alone caters to 35% of the 565 project challenges announced thus far
00:16:45highlights a deep commitment to the national effort of supporting innovation through hand-holding and technology incubation
00:16:52The Indian Navy is a microcosm of India with personnel from different parts of the country living as one family
00:17:03held together by boards of camaraderie and the sense of common purpose
00:17:07The workforce of highly talented and well-trained men and women of the command continue to be at the centre of our overall combat capability
00:17:15and we continue to invest deeply in upskilling them and providing them the opportunities they deserve
00:17:23Therefore, physical fitness, sports and adventure activities remain prominent in the Western Naval Command annual talent
00:17:32The command expanded the scope of its outreach to enable veterans and ex-servicemen through multifarious initiatives
00:17:38such as the Veterans Day Parade, celebration of age-related milestones and seminars such as the one conducted
00:17:45to celebrate the lives and times of Armin Lowell Dawson recently
00:17:50As far as outreach to Mumbai and Mumbai girls is concerned, the Western Naval Command Marathon,
00:17:56weekly and retreat ceremony, band concerts at various locations in the city and visits to naval established groups and units
00:18:03are central to our effort to develop higher time consciousness amongst the city's populace
00:18:10Let me assure you that these activities are not limited only to the state of Maharashtra
00:18:14Our outreach with the people and crucial communities of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka
00:18:20has continued with high enthusiasm and commitment in the last year
00:18:24For instance, the command has carried out extensive community interaction programs during the monsoon this year
00:18:30to engage with local fishing communities covering 102 villages in all foreign coastal states
00:18:37Some of our decommissioned ships, submarines and aircraft are in the process of being converted into museums or exhibits
00:18:45that seek to promote maritime consciousness and encourage young citizens of our country to join the armed forces
00:18:52Another significant initiative of command is the proactive support that it has provided to the sea trials of INSV Kondinyam
00:19:02The state ship that was inducted into the Indian Navy on 21st May 2025
00:19:08Very soon, this unique vessel will showcase the maritime predictions of the country
00:19:13and will set sail and will set sail in the seas once again during the ongoing voyage
00:19:19and we expect that it will sail from Madhvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Haman
00:19:24retracing those monsoon trade routes
00:19:29One of the striking features of this year has been the Honourable Prime Minister's Day at Sea
00:19:34that the Western Naval Command was privileged to host on 19th and 20th October 2025
00:19:40The presence of the Honourable Prime Minister on the day of the nation's biggest festival, Diwali
00:19:45simply brought joy to the men and women of the fine service
00:19:49and continues to serve as a key motivator for all of us
00:19:53Finally, as you have seen, we have had a busy 2025
00:19:59The year has been professionally enriching and rewarding to all personnel of the Western Naval Command
00:20:05We remain stood to, as always, and intend to consolidate the gains of the last one year
00:20:10to strengthen our combat readiness, sharpen our response mechanisms
00:20:15and serve the Navy and the nation selflessly by upholding the values of duty, honour and courage
00:20:22I conclude by once again assuring you that the Western Naval Command is combat ready
00:20:27and will leave no stone unturned in securing our national maritime interests anytime, anywhere and anyhow
00:20:36Thank you very much, Jaiya
00:20:38Can you hear me? Is this on? Thank you sir
00:20:57The floor is now open for questions
00:21:01Please
00:21:02Can you pass on the mics to you?
00:21:03Can I tell you?
00:21:04Yes, please
00:21:05Hi, sir. Shama from Doordarshan
00:21:17Yes, sir.
00:21:18You mentioned that this year, 11 ships were commissioned and 51 are under construction
00:21:22How does western naval command prepare to integrate these growing fields, this particular indigenous growing fields?
00:21:30Thank you. Are there any other questions related? Anything else related to induction of ships, submarines?
00:21:37And also a total number of shipped submarines.
00:21:40Steel.
00:21:41Okay. Any other questions related to force levels, inductions, so that we can follow them in one shot.
00:21:47Okay. Fair question.
00:21:54Okay. So, we have inducted.
00:22:06Steel. Steel.
00:22:08Steel.
00:22:09Steel.
00:22:10Steel.
00:22:11Steel.
00:22:12Steel.
00:22:13All of these are a part of our maritime capabilities perspective plan and maritime capabilities perspective plan is a comprehensive plan that not only plans the induction of vessels but also the induction of infrastructure that are required for them.
00:22:28As you know Mumbai of course is our principal naval base but we have Karwal as well as a huge naval base coming out.
00:22:36So we have sufficient infrastructure which is commensurate, in fact more than commensurate with our current growth plans.
00:22:45The Indian Navy today goes off a fleet strength of 138 ships or thereabouts.
00:22:51We hope to ramp this number up to about 150 or so soon, maybe 200 by the year 2030 and maybe 240.
00:23:03That is a part of the maritime capabilities perspective plan.
00:23:07This is also in accordance with our modernization plan of the Indian Navy which runs actually in three different strands.
00:23:13The first strand of course is to upgrade whenever we can through technological upgrade an existing fleet.
00:23:20And the second strand is to replace the existing fleet with more capable ships to perform the same role.
00:23:27And the third strand of course is to expand the fleet size per month's rate with our operational demands.
00:23:33Like all of you know the Indian Navy is deployed today like it has never deployed before.
00:23:38We have presence in almost all parts of the world at all times of the year.
00:23:42We have mission based deployments in which we maintain permanent presence of Indian divisions in various parts of the Indian Ocean region.
00:23:49The demands on our operations and the requirement of the Indian Navy to be deployed have increased.
00:23:57The nation expects the Navy to be present wherever our national interests lie.
00:24:04And so our tasking has expanded.
00:24:07Also given the threat environment and the complexity that it brings to the Indian Ocean region,
00:24:12maritime capabilities perspective plan covers to those as well.
00:24:16So the Indian Navy has been an expanding force for the last two or three decades.
00:24:21And we will see that momentum continuing into the next two decades.
00:24:26Like I said before, the Indian Navy's vision for itself is to build a balanced fleet of about 230 to 240 ships
00:24:34that we will pursue to the government.
00:24:36But for the time being, we already have 51 ships that are underwater.
00:24:41And we have several other projects that have obtained AON which we will pursue in the coming months.
00:24:46Sign contracts and try to induct them.
00:24:48Induction of new capability and modernization of the fleet are ongoing activities like you know.
00:24:54So this will be an ongoing end above the Indian Navy.
00:24:57And our effort will be to continuously upgrade, modernize the fleet,
00:25:01and add good numbers depending on how we find the balance of our forces.
00:25:06So the second part of the question was infrastructure.
00:25:10So the infrastructure at Mumbai, of course we are expanding the infrastructure at Mumbai as well.
00:25:15Mumbai of course has been moved to the Indian Navy from the time of our independence.
00:25:19And we have very, very good infrastructure as well.
00:25:21We boast of technical infrastructure that can maintain every single element of our weapons and systems in Mumbai.
00:25:30We are building more berthing space, if that is the best question, for us to berd our ships here.
00:25:36But for the time being, for our fleet size, we have adequate berthing space here.
00:25:40And with the Mumbai and Galwa complex combined, we have adequate berthing space, not only for the ships that we have currently,
00:25:47but also for the ships that are going to be inducted in the future.
00:25:52Sir, we have a next question from Zeedah.
00:25:55Followed by Dinesh.
00:25:56Ashwin Pandya, Zeedah.
00:25:58Sir, you said that when Operation Sindhul was not working,
00:26:01and when Operation Sindhul was starting last,
00:26:03there was a lot of reports coming out from the Karachi and Bastaya.
00:26:07There were so many things.
00:26:08Is it as a student command right now?
00:26:11It was with Western uniform, what type of operation was running?
00:26:13And which way should we be working now?
00:26:15Anybody else, assessment to Sindhulk?
00:26:17Yes please.
00:26:18Sir, I guess I was asked to answer the question of time.
00:26:21What about our operations coordinator at Sindhul?
00:26:23Well, internal communications department,
00:26:25what do we have learned from the end of Identity Energy development?
00:26:27Okay, any videos?
00:26:55This is regarding after Operation Sindhu, what were the lessons learned to him since two-front war is always a threat that we may be going through.
00:27:12Also addition to that was Turkey's ship which was deployed in Pakistan.
00:27:17This was one question related to Operation Sindhu and with the conflict scenario only the second question was
00:27:24that with Chinese PLA Navy inducting and commissioning Fujian, the new aircraft carrier with electromagnetic catapult and such systems.
00:27:35How does the threat scenario aggravates in Iowa?
00:27:42Yes.
00:27:43Sir, this is Satya from CNBC TV-18.
00:27:45We all saw during Operation Sindhu like any other modern warfare, unmanned aerial vehicles were a big part of it.
00:27:57And recently it has been reported that Indian Navy for the first time is going to procure Heron NK2 again.
00:28:03So if you could get some more details on that project size, when will we get these UAVs and some details on that.
00:28:10The NK9P?
00:28:11Sorry sir?
00:28:12Did you speak of the NK2?
00:28:13What did you speak about?
00:28:14Heron NK2 sir.
00:28:15Yes.
00:28:16Heron NK2?
00:28:17Yes.
00:28:18Okay.
00:28:19Should I take this off?
00:28:20Okay.
00:28:21The first thing of course is that,
00:28:23as I mentioned earlier,
00:28:28as I mentioned earlier,
00:28:30the operation is one of the most important things.
00:28:34In India Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force,
00:28:37they have been working on that day.
00:28:42As I mentioned earlier,
00:28:44as I mentioned earlier,
00:28:46the political direction was clear.
00:28:52We were told that our aim was simply to remove the terrorist infrastructure, that was done.
00:29:20If the situation was moving out of control, then the Navy would have sworn into action.
00:29:36But there is no action of the Indian Air Force that happens with one service involved alone, because you don't know where that will spiral.
00:29:45Because, you know, who maintains an escalation control?
00:29:52So, where does the escalation control stop?
00:29:57So, the Navy could have managed that escalation control by being deployed in the front line.
00:30:03And the Navy was deployed in strength, and the Navy was ready to strike.
00:30:10So, people who are watching these kind of things in the leadership on the other side, they saw the Navy coming.
00:30:19And as you said, there were rumors that Karachi's attack had happened.
00:30:24But they knew that if the Navy had to enter operations, then what the Navy is capable of doing and what the Navy could have struck.
00:30:34If the Navy could have struck, of course, the escalation would have gone much beyond what we saw.
00:30:39But we feel that the Navy was instrumental in maintaining that escalation control and posing a threat to them.
00:30:49And because we posed a threat to them, we feel that they saw the ceasefire.
00:30:54Became very, very close.
00:30:55Became very close to carrying out the strike.
00:30:57And we were thinking that, you know, we took off some of the aircraft, the Air Force carried off some strikes across the border on the air fields.
00:31:07They shrunk back.
00:31:08And we were saying, if there was going to be further escalation, then people got inside.
00:31:13Our view is that they came to know that the Navy is moving in, and therefore they asked for the ceasefire.
00:31:19Intelligence, you know, we get a lot of intelligence inputs.
00:31:23Not cable operations.
00:31:26Not cable operations during the war, but we get a lot of intelligence inputs and we get a lot of intelligence inputs.
00:31:30Because, Pakistan's network is always the right thing, that if it happens, we can't do any intelligence at all.
00:31:36So, each day we get a lot of intelligence inputs and we get a lot of intelligence inputs and we analyze them in the military.
00:31:50We take a lot of preventive action and preventive action.
00:31:57We take a lot of preventive action and we take a lot of preventive action.
00:32:14If it pertains to us, we take a lot of preventive action.
00:32:21The Indian Navy's intelligence unit is very strongly enmeshed with the intelligence units of other national agencies,
00:32:27the IB, the CBI and everybody else.
00:32:30We work very closely with the national unit.
00:32:33We get a lot of intelligence in both ourselves.
00:32:36Because we are also looking at what they are saying and how they are saying.
00:32:40That also we share in the multi-agency construct and it is all discussed right away.
00:32:44And then we take preventive action.
00:32:46But I can tell you one thing that from 26-11,
00:32:50the coordination among national intelligence agencies has increased quite a lot.
00:32:54And the regular meetings, we exchange information, we exchange inputs.
00:32:59I think the seamlessness of exchange of information has really improved.
00:33:04And so we are in a much better state now in our intelligence setup.
00:33:08Even in this 10-11,
00:33:11the suicide attack was just a small part of a larger story.
00:33:20But that larger story was tracked.
00:33:22It was tracked.
00:33:23A lot of people appeared in the same morning the previous morning.
00:33:26And we recovered a lot of explosives.
00:33:28So that is a very good example of how our intelligence network is working very well and very effectively.
00:33:36The third mission was about Turkish ships.
00:33:41So we had always expected that there would be some collusion.
00:33:46Certainly between China and Pakistan.
00:33:48Turkey and Turkey may be a spoiler.
00:33:50It was our expectation based on Turkey's behaviour on a lot of subcontinental issues and their public utterances.
00:34:01So we had expected that there would be some kind of collusion.
00:34:05It was only left for us to see when action started,
00:34:09how would that collusion manifest.
00:34:11And so it manifested in the form of hardware transfer even while the operation were on.
00:34:18So in a way we were not surprised.
00:34:20But it confirmed what we thought would happen.
00:34:23And it showed us clearly what are the possibilities in the future as well.
00:34:27So we need to keep that into account and take it into account.
00:34:30The Turkish naval ship visiting Pakistan was in a way pre-planned and we attracted.
00:34:36So we don't see much from that visit alone.
00:34:41But the fact that Turkey polluted with Pakistan was something that in a way we had expected.
00:34:46And we saw the manifestation of that happening.
00:34:49In terms of UAVs, you know, the recent conflicts have indicated to us that new technologies,
00:34:58whenever they come, whenever they become cost effective, they are utilised by everybody.
00:35:02UAV is a low cost, highly effective, you know, weapon system these days.
00:35:07I think the defining feature of today is that new technologies have also democratised.
00:35:17You know, that they are available to everybody.
00:35:19They are available to the good people and the bad people simultaneously and at very cost effective prices.
00:35:25They can be bought off the shelf and so anybody who can deploy them can deploy them.
00:35:29So, we have seen in Russia Ukraine war with the Israel-Hamas war, UAVs have been used a lot.
00:35:35Very good effect.
00:35:36Of course, they are low cost weapons that can have significant impact if they are massed in swarms and all of that.
00:35:44So, we have taken cognizance of all of that.
00:35:47We are developing our own UAV force.
00:35:49Our UAV force is, you know, 25-30 years old.
00:35:52And air-ons and, you know, like, you know, air-ons and searchers were inducted, I think, in 2004-2005, around that era.
00:36:00So, from then we have been operating UAVs for surveillance and various kinds of different kinds of activities.
00:36:06So, the air-ons are one step in that direction.
00:36:10But we have also signed last year a contract with the United States for the supply of NQ-9Bs.
00:36:17Those are huge.
00:36:18Those are big UAVs as well.
00:36:20But we are making intrudes into induction of UAVs.
00:36:26In fact, un-crude systems in all dimensions, in all domains of warfare, in significant numbers and for different kinds of purposes.
00:36:34So, we are well seized of the potential of un-crude systems and, you know, we are investing a lot on them.
00:36:41And in years to come, we will only see, you know, a very significant induction of those into our force mix.
00:36:47The Chinese, Mojian, should I take it now or should I take it later?
00:36:52Sir, in case there are any more questions on Sindhuur.
00:36:55Yeah.
00:36:56Can I give you an option?
00:36:57Can I ask for the mic to the economy?
00:36:59Hi, sir.
00:37:00Thank you for having us.
00:37:05Sir, this is Rashid Rajput from the Economic Times.
00:37:08Sir, just on the same question on Operation Sindhuur.
00:37:11What are your key takeaways from the operation and what changes has it brought in?
00:37:16The rules of engagement in the Arabian Sea?
00:37:19What are your learnings from the operations?
00:37:21You know, frankly, from where I sit in my job at the C&C of the West Indian Air Command,
00:37:27you know, we are an operational command, so we were given our orders and we have to do what we have to do.
00:37:32And, you know, simply because in my previous job, you know, I was on the sidelines and seeing how this was done.
00:37:38The key takeaway from me, for me personally, is that there was very, very good political-military synergy at the highest level.
00:37:47You know, that picture which had the Prime Minister sitting with the external affairs minister, the defence minister,
00:37:52the national security advisor, the defense secretary, the foreign security, the service chief, the CDS.
00:37:59You know, it probably had everybody who could have contributed to a decision-making at that time in one room.
00:38:05And they met multiple times, you know, of course, you and me have not been privy to what we discussed there.
00:38:12But just that picture, you know, says a thousand words on the civil-military synergy at the highest level.
00:38:20So we had absolutely no doubt on what the political intent of the whole operation was.
00:38:26It makes it so much easier for the military people to just go and execute what has been politically decided.
00:38:32You know, there was absolutely zero ambiguity.
00:38:35So, you know, that clarity is very important.
00:38:38We know what are the limits, what are the aims and objectives, and therefore what we need to do.
00:38:42I also believe that the military leadership provided the political leadership options on what can be done and what could not be done.
00:38:49And the military leadership was given to the rest of my knowledge, all freedom to carry what is required,
00:38:55provided, you know, they stuck to the guardrails that the political leadership came.
00:39:01So, the first takeaway is, of course, that, you know, that was, it was super for us to see that.
00:39:07The second thing is the synergy among the armed forces itself,
00:39:10because, you know, there was a seamless information exchange.
00:39:13You know, the army, the navy, the air force knew exactly what each one was doing.
00:39:17And if we had to complement each other's operations, of course, these operations were very, very short.
00:39:23But, you know, they had prolonged.
00:39:24And, you know, then we could have very easily complemented each other's operations and, you know, added value to that.
00:39:29So, that synergy was very, very good.
00:39:31The third, of course, is that our precision weapons, you know, they operated very, very well.
00:39:37We had pinpoint targets.
00:39:39And, you know, we normally, when we go with such clear political guidance,
00:39:43you want to make sure that you have, you don't have any unnecessary collateral damage.
00:39:49And we're very proud of the fact that, you know, there was zero collateral damage.
00:39:52Our weapons were going to hit exactly where they were going to hit,
00:39:55cause the damage that we intended to cause without causing any other damage.
00:39:59So, our precision weapons worked very well.
00:40:01The timing, the decision making, our response mechanism, you know,
00:40:05when they retaliated with a huge number of drones of all kinds of origins,
00:40:09we were able to handle all of them and make sure that we lost nothing, you know.
00:40:15So, I think there were plenty of takeaways on the strategic level, on the operational level,
00:40:19and the tactical level.
00:40:21We continued to work on them.
00:40:23And, you know, it has added a lot of value to our awareness of what the adversary is,
00:40:29what it's going to be.
00:40:30And, I'm sure it will add a lot of significance to how we're going to fight our wars in the future.
00:40:37So, any more about Sindhu, or we'll move on to the BL&A move?
00:40:41Sindhu, sir.
00:40:43Sindhu?
00:40:44I think you already asked one.
00:40:45Let's move on to News 18, in case you have anything or so.
00:40:48We're not going to Sindhu.
00:40:50Sir, one question I had about last year, there was an accident.
00:40:53We'll come to that.
00:40:55There are a couple of questions.
00:40:57We'll come to that.
00:40:58I'm going nowhere.
00:40:59I will answer all your questions today.
00:41:00Just, let's go sequence so that we finish once our topic will come out.
00:41:04Sindhu.
00:41:05Think about it.
00:41:08We'll come to that.
00:41:13I have a question. You had told me that I was in the strike.
00:41:18I have an informal question.
00:41:20If you have a chance to get more action,
00:41:23you will have a chance to get more action.
00:41:26If you are in the Navy,
00:41:30you are ready for one moment.
00:41:34If you don't get a chance, how do you feel?
00:41:38We also know that when we are in action,
00:41:43we will also be familiar with it.
00:41:46But we know that what is our role?
00:41:50If we are in action,
00:41:55what is the repercussion we know?
00:41:58We know that if we are in action,
00:42:05then the scope of the operation will be lost.
00:42:11We will be waiting for the lifetime.
00:42:15If we have a chance to get more action,
00:42:18we will have a chance to get more action.
00:42:23Sir, one last question from Sindhu from the PTI.
00:42:30Sir, you mentioned that 30 ships and submarines
00:42:33were mobilized within a short period of time.
00:42:37And you are very...
00:42:41What was the comeback of the coast of Makra?
00:42:44An operational question.
00:42:46How close were you and how quickly you mobilized?
00:42:49What is serious business?
00:43:03What is serious business?
00:43:05And the repercussions of anything that you do
00:43:10could go well beyond your immediate act.
00:43:13We need to remain cognizant of that.
00:43:16We need to act with a lot of responsibility.
00:43:20And we need to do what we do very carefully
00:43:23because it has a lot of repercussions for the nation
00:43:26and for its people.
00:43:28By mobilizing fast,
00:43:30what I meant was,
00:43:32to get ships together,
00:43:35you have a peace-time posture
00:43:38and you mobilize into a war-time posture.
00:43:41That includes loading of ammunition,
00:43:44getting things ready and all of that and moving on.
00:43:46Because once you go out,
00:43:47you don't want to come back
00:43:49till you have fulfilled your role.
00:43:51So if you want to sustain yourself out sea
00:43:54for a prolonged duration,
00:43:55then you've got to be ready for that.
00:43:57World ships may not always be in that position,
00:44:00so we need to come and do that.
00:44:02We need to load our weapons,
00:44:04we need to turn around weapons and all of that.
00:44:06So that we did very, very quickly
00:44:07and we could put 30 ships out together.
00:44:09For any Navy in the world,
00:44:12to have 30 ships that are operational,
00:44:14that can be loaded and we put out
00:44:16at a short notice of four or five or six days,
00:44:18is a big deal anywhere in the world.
00:44:20And the fact that we could do it,
00:44:22we could turn around the ship very, very quickly.
00:44:24Ships that had some repairs that were pending,
00:44:27those repairs were done very quickly and sent out.
00:44:29Ships that needed to have some maintenance work done.
00:44:32That maintenance work was done,
00:44:34they were pushed out quickly.
00:44:36Ships that had to replace some machinery,
00:44:39spares and all that, those were replaced.
00:44:41Ships that had to come and load up some spares and move,
00:44:44they had to do people that had to turn around their own crew.
00:44:47That was done.
00:44:48So, you know, a ship has many parts
00:44:50and a ship to be ready to go out has to prepare.
00:44:53Normally you get mobilization time.
00:44:56This time because, you know,
00:44:58intentionally the mobilization time was kept short,
00:45:01because our objectives were short.
00:45:03But we didn't have the luxury of mobilizing short.
00:45:07We have to mobilize fully,
00:45:08because we don't know how long we're going to stay,
00:45:10what's going to happen.
00:45:11And so we could mobilize very, very fast
00:45:13and we are very proud of that.
00:45:15We learned a lot of lessons in doing that
00:45:17and we have strengthened our own SOPs.
00:45:19So, we are in a much better position now than we were before.
00:45:23Sir, there was this question on Fujian,
00:45:26production of Fujians.
00:45:27In case there are any more questions on PLA Navy?
00:45:30Anymore on Chinese Navy?
00:45:32Yes.
00:45:33Can I take it all then?
00:45:34Yes.
00:45:35Chinese Navy, do you have a question?
00:45:36Yes.
00:45:37So, the Chinese Navy has been growing at an astonishing pace
00:45:39for the last two or three decades.
00:45:40All of you know that in 2022,
00:45:41the Chinese Navy overtook the US Navy
00:45:42and has become the biggest Navy in the world.
00:45:43It has over 390 ships and that number is only growing.
00:45:49The number is not just growing only in terms of the numbers of platform,
00:45:51but also the capabilities and the sophistication of each platform.
00:45:55So, not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of the capability of each platform.
00:45:56So, not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of the capability of each platform,
00:45:57the Chinese Navy has grown tremendously.
00:45:58And just to give an analogy, one of the commonly said things is that the Chinese Navy has added
00:46:02the equivalent of the Indian Navy just in the last one decade to its course levels.
00:46:03So, that is the pace at which the Chinese Navy has grown.
00:46:04So, that is the pace at which the Chinese Navy has grown.
00:46:05This has been said multiple times, multiple times before.
00:46:06This has been said multiple times before,
00:46:07but also in terms of the capability of each platform.
00:46:08So, not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of the capability of each platform,
00:46:11the Chinese Navy has grown tremendously.
00:46:14And just to give an analogy, one of the commonly said things is that the Chinese Navy has added
00:46:22the equivalent of the Indian Navy just in the last one decade to its course levels.
00:46:27So, that is the pace at which the Chinese Navy has grown.
00:46:32This has been said multiple times, multiple times before, but it is important to bear in mind that,
00:46:37you know, a threat for a military man is a function of capability and intent.
00:46:44The Chinese Navy's capability has been growing in leaps and bounds.
00:46:47The intent of the Chinese Navy or of China, you know, is not so known because it is not so clear.
00:46:54And therefore, you know, it manifests as a threat or a challenge,
00:46:59and we've got to be cognizant of the potential of that force coming into the Indian Ocean region and,
00:47:04you know, residing here.
00:47:06We've seen Chinese presence in various forms manifesting in the form of warships, bases, research ships,
00:47:15fishing, fishery research ships, space, you know, event tracking ships, various kinds of ships.
00:47:21So, we've seen Chinese presence in a variety of forms in the Indian Ocean region on a near consistent basis.
00:47:28So, of course, we track both the Chinese, because we track every extraordinary force that comes here.
00:47:33We find it necessary to maintain what we call maritime domain awareness.
00:47:37We find it necessary as a big Navy, as a responsible Navy, and as a responsible nation in the Indian Ocean region
00:47:44to keep track of who's coming and who's going in our waters.
00:47:47And so, any ship that's coming into our waters, we keep track of where they come from, where they're going, what they're doing.
00:47:53This entire thing is called maritime domain awareness.
00:47:56We maintain this on a 24 by 7 basis, and we keep watching Chinese ships as well as we watch all other ships.
00:48:02So, the increase in the Chinese Navy's capability has been watched by us, and, you know, we have factored for them in our own capability development plans.
00:48:14The FUJIAN, of course, it was commissioned recently, but it has been in the building for a few years.
00:48:19We've been tracking the development of that.
00:48:22It has not come as a surprise to us that it's been launched with the evolved system of launching aircraft.
00:48:28It's a tremendous capability. It's a big ship.
00:48:31So, we'll have to wait and watch and see when the ship attains its full operational capabilities.
00:48:36And, of course, you know, we need to be ready for whatever challenge that manifests for the Indian Navy.
00:48:42And we're coming towards that.
00:48:44We have a question by ANI followed by APT.
00:48:47Good afternoon, sir. I'm Rajit Singh from ANI News.
00:48:50Sir, I just talked about the synergy of both the civilians and military leadership and political leadership.
00:48:56We hope and expect that we are sure we have a theatre command.
00:49:00But, before that, we had the right exercises, just before and after and after and after.
00:49:06So, how these exercises are helping the Navy in its capabilities and in terms of coordination with other segments of our military.
00:49:14And how do you expect about theatre command coming?
00:49:17Any other questions related to this topic?
00:49:22Okay. You know there is no single operation that's fought by one service alone.
00:49:30Every operation has a dimension of land warfare, air warfare and maritime warfare.
00:49:36So, that is a given for us.
00:49:39So, every opportunity we get to exercise with the Army and Air Force adds so much more value.
00:49:46Because people change, people move, equipment changes, tactics change.
00:49:52We've got new inputs on how the enemy fights, what the enemy has.
00:49:56So, our operational planning process is very dynamic.
00:49:59And, you know, it takes into account a lot of factors.
00:50:02Time, space, force and all that.
00:50:05Terrain, you know, all of that.
00:50:07So, when we say we need to gain synergy, in our view, just exercising once or twice in a year is not enough.
00:50:14You know, any number of times there is, there is nothing called, you know, a matching number of times we can operate.
00:50:20Every time we get an opportunity, we make sure we can operate.
00:50:22There are different forces, different troops, different locations, different times of the year.
00:50:26So, we learn new lessons.
00:50:28Overall, there is a solid recognition that the three forces need to operate together.
00:50:33And we need to make our own battle plans in our own environments.
00:50:36But those battle plans, you know, form a subset of our overall plan.
00:50:39And all of us contribute to that in the better way we can.
00:50:42We also phase and sequence of operations depending on, you know, how our national leadership wants it.
00:50:48And we try and see whether we can complement and supplement the operations of other services correctly by doing our own things.
00:50:55So, there is a, you know, there is a matter of synchronization, a matter of sequencing.
00:51:00There is a matter of simultaneously and all of that.
00:51:03All of that is built in together.
00:51:05But we do all that when we do these synergies exercises.
00:51:08So, I think that every time we learn new lessons, every time we find that, you know, our established issues needs a little bit of change.
00:51:14Our established procedures need a little bit of change.
00:51:16Our doctrines need a little bit of review.
00:51:18So, we do that depending on, you know, plenty of variable factors that make operational plans.
00:51:24In terms of theatralization, I don't know if it's, you know, within my pay rate to make a comment on when the theatres are going to be announced.
00:51:31But certainly, you know, the armed forces have been working towards this.
00:51:34The government has made it a mandate of the armed forces to have theatres.
00:51:39What model the theatres are going to come in, when they are going to come in as a matter of detail.
00:51:45But I know that there is a lot of, you know, intellectual energy that has been invested in making models, several models.
00:51:54Obviously, everybody wants us to carve out an Indian model because there are plenty of models in the world.
00:52:00You know, while we can learn from other models, we want to have our own model that we work with our own, you know, with our own quality and our own nation.
00:52:11So, I think there is, I can't say there is a search for an Indian model.
00:52:15I think there are a couple of Indian models that have already been conceived and, you know, they have been discussed in Delhi.
00:52:22I am not familiar with all of them.
00:52:23But I know that the Indian armed forces are very serious.
00:52:26So, I know that the theatres, in what form and when that, you know, will be decided by people in Delhi.
00:52:33VBP.
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00:53:35In this case, we know that the Chief of Defense Forces and Defense Forces will come with all the things that will come, Air Force, Navy and Army.
00:53:43So, what do we see in this situation?
00:53:48So, first of all, we have guested the Mizar.
00:53:52The Mizar's name is P-212.
00:53:54The Mizar's name is P-212.
00:54:09The Mizar's name is P-212.
00:54:14The Mizar's name is P-212.
00:54:21So, we have seen that it is a very unique capability.
00:54:25However, people are saying that it is an indigenous example.
00:54:30Where our knowledge is, it is not indigenous.
00:54:35But if we say that it is indigenous, we ask that it is indigenous.
00:54:39But this is the first test.
00:54:42Normally, there are many tests that need to do in this technology.
00:54:46One year we have done it.
00:54:48We have to monitor the development of the development.
00:54:52If people are in charge of it, we will have to take them into account in our own plans.
00:54:58And we will have to see how we can count on them.
00:55:00But a missile is a missile.
00:55:02You know, a missile can fly fast.
00:55:04There are fluid and hypersonic speeds.
00:55:06At the end, that missile brings an explosive to your forces.
00:55:10You have to be able to make sure you protect your forces from that explosive.
00:55:14You know, wherever that missile is launched through.
00:55:16This is a new national missile.
00:55:18And we know that this missile is likely to be inducted.
00:55:22These kind of missiles are already available in the vicinity.
00:55:26In our neighborhood.
00:55:28So, we have plans to tackle these missiles.
00:55:30Those plans will be extended to this missile as well.
00:55:32In Turkey, there is an unmanned platform that can carry out an air-to-air kill.
00:55:48It is a good technology.
00:55:50The technology has been tested very well.
00:55:52We have to monitor this as well.
00:55:54Does it make any difference to what we will do?
00:55:58It does not matter.
00:56:00Because only the platform has changed.
00:56:02The threat will remain as well.
00:56:04The manned air-to-air craft will do the manned air-to-air.
00:56:10So, I think it does not make any material difference to us.
00:56:15But certainly, it is a good technology that has been demonstrated.
00:56:18And we are keeping a track of where this is going.
00:56:21And how do we utilize it and integrate it into the battle matters.
00:56:25Asim Muneer, General Asim Muneer,
00:56:28The CDF has been removed.
00:56:31There is a constitutional amendment.
00:56:33What do they know about it?
00:56:35What do they know about it?
00:56:37What do they know about it?
00:56:39What do they know about it?
00:56:41What do they know about it?
00:56:43What does it mean to us?
00:56:45We know that the Pakistani armed forces,
00:56:47you know,
00:56:48a very delicious article,
00:56:50that was written in my work 3 days before.
00:56:53Mr. Ajay Bisarya,
00:56:55who was the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan,
00:56:57he had written about the ripa questions of all of this.
00:57:01And he ends his,
00:57:02it is a sense of oped in the Times of India,
00:57:04a few days back.
00:57:05And he actually says that the Pakistani army used to be the deep state,
00:57:11or a state within the state.
00:57:13But now it turns out that the Pakistani army is the state.
00:57:16Because there is no other state than the Pakistani army.
00:57:19So that is the reality we have to know of it.
00:57:22How Pakistan governs itself,
00:57:25what kind of internet power equation they have,
00:57:28is for them to decide.
00:57:31How it matters to us is,
00:57:33you know,
00:57:34how those power structures impact our national security.
00:57:37We know that Pakistan has a historic view on India,
00:57:41and what it wants to do to India.
00:57:43So we have to be ready.
00:57:44Whether it is asking me or somebody else,
00:57:46whatever they do,
00:57:47we have to be ready.
00:57:48And we are watching that.
00:57:49And so,
00:57:50because of his new elevated position as CDF,
00:57:54if they want to be a little more assertive,
00:57:57then in our view at least,
00:57:59they will know what India is,
00:58:02if they try to do something that they must not.
00:58:05And maybe,
00:58:06then they may be compelled to review
00:58:09their own internal mechanisms after that.
00:58:11So we are running short on time,
00:58:14so in case you forget,
00:58:15then we will take last two questions,
00:58:17and one from MDT,
00:58:18and one from MDT,
00:58:19and one from MDT.
00:58:20I have one question,
00:58:21sir.
00:58:22Last year, there was a incident
00:58:23of Ujja Island.
00:58:24Please,
00:58:25give him the mic, please.
00:58:26Last year,
00:58:27there was an accident off Ujja Island,
00:58:29where a naval vessel was being tried.
00:58:32So,
00:58:33the board of invitees completed its report,
00:58:35submitted it to the West 11th Amendment.
00:58:37What went wrong,
00:58:38and what are the lessons of the world?
00:58:42So,
00:58:43exactly,
00:58:44you know,
00:58:45you have said the exact word,
00:58:46it was an accident,
00:58:47and all of us know what an accident is.
00:58:50An accident is an unintended event.
00:58:52It happened,
00:58:53and it is an unfortunate event.
00:58:55There are two simultaneous legal judicial processes
00:58:59that are going on with respect to that accident alone.
00:59:02One, of course,
00:59:03is the Naval Board of Enquiry.
00:59:05And,
00:59:06the Board of Enquiry,
00:59:07as you know,
00:59:08in the Navy,
00:59:09is largely constituted for fact-finding.
00:59:11You know,
00:59:12what went wrong,
00:59:13how did it happen,
00:59:14you know,
00:59:15all of that.
00:59:16So,
00:59:17that Board of Enquiry
00:59:18has been concluded in the West 11th Amendment,
00:59:20and has been sent to naval headquarters.
00:59:21And,
00:59:22that Board of Enquiry
00:59:23has been examined in headquarters,
00:59:24and we don't implement anything,
00:59:25we don't decide on what we've learned,
00:59:29until the Board of Enquiry to City,
00:59:30are approved.
00:59:31Because,
00:59:32you know,
00:59:33Board of Enquiries are a good thing,
00:59:34and they place a lot of evidence,
00:59:36and they come to their own findings and conclusions.
00:59:39Those are examined at various levels,
00:59:41and say whether we agree,
00:59:42or not,
00:59:43in those things.
00:59:44So,
00:59:45until the NHU approves that,
00:59:46you know,
00:59:47we are not in any position to say,
00:59:48exactly what happened,
00:59:49and,
00:59:50you know,
00:59:51what we found,
00:59:52and,
00:59:53you know,
00:59:54what lessons we have implemented.
00:59:55But,
00:59:56the second thing is more important,
00:59:57because,
00:59:58this is sampled risk.
00:59:59And,
01:00:00there as well,
01:00:01you know,
01:00:02the civil investigating agencies,
01:00:03will ask for a lot of opinion,
01:00:04a lot of evidence,
01:00:05and they will have something.
01:00:06So,
01:00:07actually,
01:00:08it was an accident.
01:00:09It happened.
01:00:10Unfortunate.
01:00:11A lot of people lost their lives.
01:00:12And,
01:00:13we are very, very sad about that incident.
01:00:14But,
01:00:15at the moment,
01:00:16we are not in any position,
01:00:17to comment on that,
01:00:18because we don't know,
01:00:19what the legal process will throw up.
01:00:22And,
01:00:23two,
01:00:24what exactly happened,
01:00:25needs to be established,
01:00:26when it has been gathered.
01:00:27So,
01:00:28I am not privy to that yet.
01:00:29But,
01:00:30I can tell you this,
01:00:31that,
01:00:32you know,
01:00:33we have implemented a couple of measures,
01:00:35that make sure that,
01:00:36the risks,
01:00:37of these things happening,
01:00:38in Mumbai harbour,
01:00:39are reduced significantly,
01:00:40because,
01:00:41you know,
01:00:42Mumbai harbour,
01:00:43is a very narrow harbour,
01:00:44that has a lot of,
01:00:45cross channel traffic.
01:00:46And,
01:00:47that's,
01:00:48that's part of daily life.
01:00:49And,
01:00:50you know,
01:00:51we have to carry on trials,
01:00:52we have to,
01:00:53you know,
01:00:54the Navy and boats,
01:00:55and boats have to carry on trials.
01:00:56So,
01:00:57we have established new SOPs,
01:00:58we have established areas,
01:00:59in which these trials can be done.
01:01:01We are trying to de-risk,
01:01:02these trials,
01:01:03as much as possible.
01:01:04We also have SOPs,
01:01:05in which we will intimate,
01:01:07all people,
01:01:08that we are carrying on trials,
01:01:09so that,
01:01:10we can keep clear of them,
01:01:11they can keep clear of us.
01:01:12We will also speak to the MPPA,
01:01:14get from them a sense of,
01:01:15what the traffic is,
01:01:16and what time of the day,
01:01:17what time of night,
01:01:18to have higher,
01:01:19you know,
01:01:20traffic,
01:01:21so that,
01:01:22we can,
01:01:23we can,
01:01:24at least de-risk,
01:01:25these kind of trials,
01:01:26and make sure that,
01:01:27you know,
01:01:28that is what we see happening,
01:01:29are minimized,
01:01:30in the future.
01:01:31Right,
01:01:32so last question,
01:01:33from NDTV.
01:01:34So,
01:01:35over the last,
01:01:36year or so,
01:01:37the political events,
01:01:38in a neighboring country,
01:01:39has meant,
01:01:40that the Pakistan Navy,
01:01:42and Bangladesh Navy,
01:01:43now have,
01:01:44closer cooperation,
01:01:45Pakistan Navy ships,
01:01:46docking,
01:01:47in the Foundation.
01:01:49The possibility,
01:01:50of a two-prone war,
01:01:52for the Navy,
01:01:53both on the Eastern Front,
01:01:54and the Western Front,
01:01:56now is,
01:01:57almost,
01:01:58there,
01:01:59I mean,
01:02:00if there is a conflict.
01:02:01In that situation,
01:02:02how does the Western Naval Command,
01:02:04sort of,
01:02:05readjust,
01:02:06realign,
01:02:07to this new,
01:02:08paradigm,
01:02:09that has emerged,
01:02:10in this area?
01:02:11So,
01:02:12when I say,
01:02:14two front war,
01:02:15you mean,
01:02:16Bangladesh and Pakistan,
01:02:17or?
01:02:18Jointly.
01:02:19Jointly.
01:02:20Jointly.
01:02:21And on the visits,
01:02:22of the,
01:02:23the Pakistan Naval Chief,
01:02:24to Bangladesh,
01:02:25almost,
01:02:26announcing,
01:02:27all planets.
01:02:28Yeah,
01:02:29yeah.
01:02:30So,
01:02:31this is,
01:02:32this is,
01:02:33a very interesting development,
01:02:34that the nations,
01:02:35that,
01:02:36that broke apart,
01:02:37because of,
01:02:38you know,
01:02:39the historic,
01:02:40many historical factors,
01:02:41more than they have,
01:02:42in the last so many decades.
01:02:43It's an interesting development,
01:02:44but the fact of the matter is,
01:02:45you know,
01:02:46Pakistan and Bangladesh,
01:02:47are both sovereign nations,
01:02:48and,
01:02:49you know,
01:02:50they are afraid to decide,
01:02:51they want to engage with,
01:02:52and they want to engage with each other.
01:02:53I think there is very little,
01:02:54we can do,
01:02:55as an independent sovereign nation.
01:02:56But,
01:02:57as a Navy,
01:02:58we are watching this,
01:02:59you know,
01:03:00obviously,
01:03:01with a lot of interest.
01:03:02We don't see any risk of,
01:03:04of,
01:03:05I mean,
01:03:06we don't,
01:03:07we see no reason,
01:03:08why we should,
01:03:09do any operations,
01:03:10with the Bangladeshi Navy,
01:03:11or the Bangladeshi Navy,
01:03:12or the Bangladeshi Navy,
01:03:13who can do any operations,
01:03:14with us.
01:03:15Because,
01:03:16you know,
01:03:17Bangladesh,
01:03:18is a very valuable,
01:03:19friendly neighborhood.
01:03:20We work a lot,
01:03:21with the Bangladeshi Navy.
01:03:22We,
01:03:23we,
01:03:24do a lot of joint things together.
01:03:25To the best of my knowledge,
01:03:26we share very,
01:03:27very good political,
01:03:28cultural,
01:03:29economic relations,
01:03:30with Bangladesh.
01:03:31So,
01:03:32we don't see any threat,
01:03:33of Bangladesh,
01:03:34turning close to,
01:03:35with respect to India,
01:03:36you know,
01:03:37at all.
01:03:38That's,
01:03:39we don't see the possibility,
01:03:40at the moment.
01:03:41But,
01:03:42I do think,
01:03:43what,
01:03:44is something that,
01:03:45you know,
01:03:46we should be ready for,
01:03:47because,
01:03:48you know,
01:03:49we find,
01:03:50the Indian Navy,
01:03:51one continuous,
01:03:52you know,
01:03:53ocean,
01:03:54what,
01:03:55what,
01:03:56what,
01:03:57what is in the west,
01:03:58and what is in the east,
01:03:59and what is in the east,
01:04:00and come to the west.
01:04:01As far as the western Navy command is concerned,
01:04:02you know,
01:04:03I have a jurisdiction,
01:04:04by the Navy,
01:04:05by the Chief of Naked Staff.
01:04:06And,
01:04:07my operation will,
01:04:08will largely be guided by what task,
01:04:09and given by the Chief of Naked Staff.
01:04:11And,
01:04:12and so,
01:04:13we,
01:04:14we don't know where operations will be conducted,
01:04:15but,
01:04:16if the western Navy command is expected,
01:04:17to carry out operations on the eastern seaboard,
01:04:19we will suddenly be ready for it.
01:04:21And,
01:04:22we will get this,
01:04:23no problem.
01:04:24Thanks.
01:04:25Thank you so much sir.
01:04:27I think it's time now to call curtains to the media interaction.
01:04:30We may however continue the discussions over the informal get together,
01:04:34and lunch.
01:04:35On behalf of the Commander in Chief,
01:04:38I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the media,
01:04:42for the excellent support extended to the Indian Navy over the years,
01:04:45especially in the runoff,
01:04:47for the Navy Day in 2025.
01:04:49We are now preparing to request the flag of sense to rise,
01:04:52and,
01:04:53for a,
01:04:54for a episode.
01:04:55Yes.
01:04:56I think the subject should,
01:04:57can I just see it?
01:04:59.
01:05:01.
01:05:03Can I make a seat?
01:05:04This is the massacre of the war.
01:05:06Please take this.
01:05:08.
01:05:09.
01:05:10.
01:05:12.
01:05:14This is funny, I am trying to say something, you are not listening to me.
01:05:21We say this, we say this many times, that the Indian Navy, the Indian Navy, and because
01:05:27we operate largely on the horizon and a lot of people don't know what we do, our public
01:05:33interaction and the public interface is very important as an element of us sharing with
01:05:39our countrymen what we do and educating them on what we do.
01:05:43The Navy meet and the Navy day and the activities that surround the Navy, the meeting retreat,
01:05:47the marathon and all that gives us the opportunity of interacting with our countrymen.
01:05:52I think you as our friends in this endeavor could also carry good stories about what the
01:06:00Navy does so that our countrymen know what the Navy does.
01:06:05Finally it is their Navy, we are running it on their behalf.
01:06:08So the Navy is a good message, the Navy is good work, wherever you can, you please carry
01:06:14it to the people of India so that they get educated.
01:06:17They know, they get inspired by what the Navy does and they get a lot more maritime riches
01:06:23than they are.
01:06:24Of course, you know, what the Navy needs to do to improve, you know, if you have any
01:06:28suggestions, they are quite happy to talk to you about that and learn something what
01:06:31the Navy needs to do.
01:06:32But if you know the Navy does some good work, to my request, please put it out to the people
01:06:33of India so that they know that they have got a good Navy, they have got a Navy that is
01:06:37respected across the world and there are a lot of people who watch these kinds of things
01:06:39across the world.
01:06:40The man and machine combined with the Indian Navy is something that is respected all over
01:06:44the world simply because of the kind of people we are and the work that we do down the clock.
01:06:52You know, we are in the Gulf of Aden from 2008.
01:07:06We are perhaps the only Navy that dives into harm's way to save others.
01:07:11You know, I don't know if any other Navy has done the kind of work we have done.
01:07:15You know, at the cost of risking the lives of other people we have gone and helped other
01:07:20Navy's in that area where they have been attacked by the Houthis, their fire on board, you know,
01:07:25the dangerous cargo on board and whatever.
01:07:27I don't know if any other Navy has stuck its neck out and, you know, gone into harm's way
01:07:32to help other people.
01:07:33You know, our Navy does it.
01:07:35Because it is hundreds and thousands of miles away from you, a lot of our country people
01:07:39don't know it.
01:07:40We rely on people like you to take these stories to them so that they know that they have a good
01:07:44Navy.
01:07:45They are proud of the Navy.
01:07:46They come and join the Navy in big numbers.
01:07:48Even if they don't join the Navy in big numbers, they are inspired to contribute to the national
01:07:55security effort in some way or the other.
01:07:57You can do that.
01:07:58So I request you to do that.
01:07:59And I wish you once again the very best of luck.
01:08:01Thank you so much for joining such large numbers.
01:08:03And, you know, we will interact over lunch.
01:08:06The photographers can take off.
01:08:15Cool.
01:08:16You are right.
01:08:17See you next time.
01:08:18Please take some time.
01:08:19You cannot wait.
01:08:20Come I will go.
01:08:21You are going to hang out with your hair.
01:08:22A man, he will go.
01:08:23Check out.
01:08:24You have my hair on the shoulder.
01:08:25The favorites are on the shoulder.
01:08:26This one.
01:08:27You have to do the thing too.
01:08:28This is the triangle.
01:08:29That is the triangle.
01:08:30The mirror is the triangle.
01:08:31The triangle is the triangle.
01:08:33There is no one.
01:08:34You have to do the triangle.
01:08:35There are two.
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