Navy Commanders to discuss plans to enhance footprint in IOR

Navy commanders are set to discuss plans for "enhancing and sustaining Indian Navy's operational footprint in the Indian Ocean Region" (IOR) and review the navy's combat readiness at a conference starting here on Tuesday.

The bi-annual Naval Commanders Conference will be addressed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who will also interact with the commanders during the four-day event.

"The commanders will also discuss plans for 'enhancing and sustaining Indian Navy's operational footprint in the IOR' in keeping with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR)," an official communique from the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

The commanders will also review initiatives to further maritime cooperation with other navies in the IOR as also the Indian Navy's ability to proactively respond to maritime security challenges, including natural calamities, in the IOR, it said.

It said that the Chief of the Naval Staff, with the Commanders-in-Chief, will review major operational, materiel, human resource, training and administrative activities undertaken in the last six months and deliberate the way ahead on important activities and initiatives.

"The navy's combat readiness would be reviewed with focus on operational effectiveness of combat platforms, logistics and development of shore support infrastructure for sustaining distant operations.

"Efforts towards indigenisation and standardisation to make the navy self-reliant and modernise its warfare capability by means of unmanned systems would also be examined," it said.

The conference will also review the security of establishments in the backdrop of terrorist threats and the prevailing security scenario.

An interaction is also planned with Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to provide the "commanders a perspective on broader national interests".

The bi-annual event serves as a platform for institutionalised interaction between the naval commanders and senior government officials and with the chiefs of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

--IANS

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