Indian Navy plans to boost its fleet

The Indian Navy will lay emphasis on the production of a series of fast attack crafts and ASW Corvettes as part of its plans to build a balanced fleet.

According to Vice Chief of Naval Staff Yaswant Prasad, the navy was looking at acquiring the highest standards of naval aviation surveillance equipment, FACs, Corvettes and landing and supporting vessels such as landing ship tanks.

"By a balanced fleet, we mean that we should be able to meet all kinds of operation plans," Prasad, in Kolkata on Wednesday to launch the second indigenously-built landing ship tank (large) INS Kesari, said.

The navy has earmarked Rs 1,200 crore for building three landing ship tanks (large) that can carry 11 main battle tanks, 10 army vehicles and 500 troops.

• 'We have a long way to go'

These ships will be fitted with modern electronic equipment such as EW facilities, integrated propulsion remote control and battle damage control systems. They will also have two WM 18 rocket launcher mountings and four anti-aircraft guns.

Prasad said the navy had already placed its order for a third landing ship tank with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata.

He said this will be followed up with orders for four follow-up FACs and four ASW Corvettes. "Indigenous shipbuilding is the cornerstone of our future fleet expansion plans," Prasad said.

The navy's deputy chief said the Russian-made Gorshkov that had been rechristened as INS Vikramaditya would be inducted into the navy in 2008, but he refused to divulge when India would buy the Scorpion submarines.

Naval exercises with the United States, the United Kingdom and France have been lined up this year, Prasad said.