Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of the Naval Staff along with Pradeep Kumar, Defence Secretary embarked the aircraft carrier INS Viraat operating on the eastern seaboard to kick start the first phase of ‘TROPEX 10’. The exercise involves the participation of most major combatants of the Indian Navy, as also participation of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard. Just as the combination of the two fleets and the elements of the sister services contribute to synergy, the presence of the Defence Secretary with the CNS is indicative of the close coordination and synergy of the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence, which is the key to enhancing effectiveness at the “business end” of the Navy.

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Former navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar has filed a RTI as per reports in an Indian newspaper. He says that the decision to induct Israeli Barak anti-missile system was taken in 1993-94.

I remember my discussion with Admiral (Retd) Vishnu Bhagwat in 2007. What he told me was that navy was ready to wait for Trishul SAM to perform. Navy was ready for any indigenous weapon system to be deployed in Mark I phase, followed by the Mark II phase and so on. It has been 2 years since I met him.

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The 19th day of Feb 2010, was marked with the take off of the Indian Navy’s new fighter aircraft – the MiG-29K with it’s full afterburners. The new fighter displayed its agility by breaking into an almost vertical climb within seconds after take off. This was part of the ceremony to formally induct MiG-29K ’Air Dominance Fighter’ aircraft, into the Indian Navy. The grand ceremony to formally induct the aircraft into the Indian Navy was held at INS Hansa, Vasco da Gama, Goa. The might of Naval Aviation was on display- both in the air and on ground. In addition to the MiG-29K itself, the air display included a grand fly-past comprising of Sea Harrier, Ilyushin-38 (Sea Dragon), Chetak, Kiran and Dornier. The Sagar Pawan Aerobatic team also displayed its prowess in various breathtaking formation aerobatic manoeuvres.

Addressing the gathering after witnessing a flypast, the Defence minister said that the induction of MiG 29K fighters into the navy fulfils a long-standing requirement of our navy. “With today’s induction of the MiG 29 K, coupled with future inductions of aircraft carriers our navy’s capability will see a quantum jump”, he added. He stated that such an addition to our inventory was in fact overdue as the operational role of the Indian Navy has increased manifold.

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