Navy looking to ally with industry to maintain combative edge

The poor state of indigenisation in the fight component, which includes weapons and sensors, remains a "concern and challenge", says Vice Admiral

The poor state of indigenisation of the Navy's war-fighting component, including weapons and sensors, is a "concern and challenge", Vice-Chief of Naval Staff R K Dhowan said today.

There is a need to tap the potential of Indian industry, which has shown tremendous promise in IT and pharma industries, to overcome this gap, the Vice Admiral said.

As the Navy gears up for its first ever naval and maritime exposition from September 23 at Kochi, the Vice-Chief of Naval Staff termed the collaboration with industry key to the force's success and fulfilment of its commitment for indigenisation.

NAMEXPO, 2013, organised by the CII in association with the navy, "blends in well with our goal of maritime security through self-reliance," he said, adding that 46 ships and submarines are under construction at various Indian shipyards.

Dhowan, however, said the poor state of indigenisation in the fight component, which includes weapons and sensors, remains a "concern and challenge".

"Navy is poised for growth where over the next decade we plan to induct at least four to five major combatants every year. This provides an ideal opportunity for Indian shipyards and industry to enter into collaborative arrangements or joint venture partnerships to ensure that navy's combative edge is maintained," he said.

The Vice-Chief shared concerns of some industry representatives over the long drawn and often-delayed procurement process and said the government had been encouraging to feedback.

"Many steps have been merged to cut down the time line... No magic happens overnight. We are on the path to see the process streamlined and time line cut short," he said.

He was speaking at an interactive session held prior to the exposition.

NAMEXPO, 2013, would be an opportunity to the global and Indian industry to interact with the navy, Indian Coast Guards, ministries of shipping and micro, small and medium enterprises.

The five-day conference will cover themes like MSMEs, naval aviation, naval weapons, surveillance systems and communications among other issues.