Page 23 - Indian Navy

GRSE delivers India's 'largest-ever' survey vessel to navy: Official

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Monday delivered the largest-ever survey vessel to be built in the country - INS Sandhayak - to the Indian Navy, an official said. INS Sandhayak, the first in a series of four survey vessels being made by GRSE for the navy, was launched on December 5, 2021, and was undergoing fitting out and trials thereafter. The 110-metre-long ship was delivered on December 4, which is observed as Navy Day, the GRSE official said. The protocol of delivery and acceptance was signed between GRSE Chairman and MD, Commodore (retd) P R Hari, and commanding officer of the vessel, Commodore R M Thomas. INS Sandhayak is the reincarnation of another ship by the same name, which was also a survey vessel. That ship had been commissioned into the navy in 1981 and decommissioned in 2021, the official said. Fully designed by the GRSE, the survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbour ...

Exhaust every resource to bring back ex-Navy staff from Qatar: Adhir in LS

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday demanded that the government "exhausts every resource" to bring back the eight former naval personnel who were handed death sentences by a court in Qatar. The Indian nationals were handed the death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance on October 26. India described the ruling as "deeply" shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Chowdhury said the government should exhaust every resource to get rid of the charges against the Indian nationals convicted by the Qatari court. An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence and a higher court in Qatar has admitted the plea. The appeal has been filed by the legal team of the detained Indian nationals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai last week and discussed the well-being of the Indian community in that ...

Indian Navy Day 2023: History, significance, event, quotes and more

Indian Navy Day 2023: India observes Navy Day every year on December 4, to remember the ultimate sacrifice of our brave navy personnel and demonstrate to the world our naval capabilities

INS Vikramaditya, INS Vikrant to be deployed for Milan-2024: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has planned to deploy both its aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant on the eastern seaboard during Milan-2024, a flagship international naval exercise hosted by Vizag from February 19-27 next year, a senior official said on Sunday. "The event will be held under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Indian Navy with likely participation from nearly 50 friendly countries as a delegation, and 20 foreign warships along with one maritime patrol aircraft, said Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag-Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Eastern Naval Command. Navies from the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are set to be among the participating nations in the Milan-2024 exercise to be conducted off Visakhapatnam next year, he added. The upcoming exercise will be the biggest multilateral military war game to be hosted by India ever. It will feature large-force manoeuvres, advanced air defence ..

Navy appoints first woman commanding officer in naval ship: Admiral Kumar

The Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of 'all roles-all ranks' for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday. Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy's ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo in the strategic waters in the last one year. On China's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean, he said the Indian Navy monitors all activities in the region. "Our ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo - undertaking missions and tasks encompassing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles," he said. "Our units were deployed across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, to protect and promote our national interests," he said. Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship. However he did not provide further details. Vice Admiral Di

Disputes in Indo-Pacific could get out of control: Navy Chief Admiral Kumar

The disputes in the Indo-Pacific do have the possibility of getting out of control and turning into conflict, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the region. In a media briefing ahead of Navy Day on December 4, he also said India has been closely monitoring Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean and that his force deployed surveillance assets, ships, aircraft, submarines and drones to boost its presence. "We try to keep the extra-regional forces which are present in the region under surveillance as we would like to know what are their activities and what are the intentions," he said, referring to Chinese forays into the Indian Ocean. "That is why we deploy our surveillance assets and ships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) etc. They are deployed regularly to keep our area of interest under observation to see that we are aware of all the happenin

'Govt making all-out efforts to bring back Navy men on death row in Qatar'

The government is making all-out efforts to bring back eight former naval personnel from Qatar, who were handed death sentences by a Qatari court, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday. "There is total support and effort being put in by the government," he said. The Navy veterans were on October 26 sentenced to death by Qatar's Court of First Instance. India described the ruling as "deeply" shocking and vowed to explore all legal options. An appeal has already been filed against the death sentence and a higher court in Qatar has admitted the plea. "The ex-naval officers in Qatar are veterans.... And we are interested in ensuring that their welfare is taken care of. I want to reassure you that the Indian government is putting all-out efforts to ensure that they are brought back," Kumar said this while responding to a question at a media briefing. The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in a case of allege

Rajnath Singh unveils crest of India guided missile destroyer 'INS Imphal'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday unveiled the crest of Indian Navy's stealth guided missile destroyer Imphal that is equipped with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles and anti-submarine indigenous rocket launchers. The ship was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20 by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. The crest unveiling ceremony in Delhi was graced by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar. INS Imphal is the third of the four Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers. The crest design depicts the Kangla Palace on the left and 'Kangla-Sa' on the right. The unveiling of Imphal's crest, adorned with the Kangla Palace and Kangla-Sa is a befitting tribute to the sacrifice made by the people of Manipur towards India's independence, sovereignty and security, the defence ministry said. The Kangla Palace is an important historical and archaeological site of Manipur, and was the ...

Qatar court admits India's appeal against death penalty to 8 ex-Navy men

A Qatari court has admitted the Indian government's appeal against the death penalty handed down to eight former Indian Navy personnel in that country, according to media reports, even as there was no official word from the Ministry of External Affairs here on Friday. The Qatari court on Thursday admitted the appeal filed by the Indian government and the next hearing is to be held soon, the reports said. Last week, India said the appeal process against the death sentence given to the eight former Indian Navy personnel by a Qatari court is under process and it was hopeful of a positive outcome from it. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said India is engaged with the Qatari authorities on the matter and the government will continue to extend all legal and consular assistance to the Indian nationals. The eight Indians were on October 26 given the death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance. India described the ruling as "deeply" shocking and vowed to expl

Qatar accepts India's appeal against death sentence to ex-Navy officers

On October 26, the eight personnel were given death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance

Indian Navy deploys INS Sumedha in Mozambique to boost interoperability

The Indian Navy, under the ongoing extended operational deployment to Africa, has deployed INS Sumedha in Maputo, Mozambique

Assets deployed to undertake evacuation: Navy chief on West Asia conflict

The Indian Navy has deployed assets in the gulfs of Oman and Aden, and the Red Sea to undertake any evacuation requirements due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday. Responding to a question at the Synergie Conclave here on the Israel-Hamas conflict in West Asia, he said India is already providing assistance to the people of Gaza in terms of relief material. "We have units deployed in the gulfs of Oman and Aden, and also in the Red Sea for any assistance that is required. The country is already providing assistance to Gaza in terms of relief material. The Navy is on standby in case of any evacuation requirements of any nationals so we have some units deployed in the Red Sea as well," he said. "...As far as Gaza is concerned ships are deployed and we are ready to provide any assistance for any evacuation," he said.

Indian Navy will become fully Atmanirbhar by 2047: Admiral R Hari Kumar

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar on Wednesday said the Navy is committed to become fully 'Atmanirbhar' or self-reliant by 2047 when India will be celebrating 100 years of its independence. The Navy chief made the remarks at the convocation of Karnavati University, a private varsity situated near Uvarsad village in Gandhinagar district. "In the words of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the defence sector is a major demand creator and the Indian Navy has a proud track record in that regard. With 65 warships and submarines under construction at various shipbuilding yards, Indian Navy aims to be the torchbearer of Atmanirbhar Bharat," said Kumar in his address as the chief guest. "And we have made a commitment to the national leadership, to become fully Atmanirbhar by 2047. When we look at the economic part of it, every rupee spent on ship-building triggers a circulation of Rs 1.82. In addition to ship-building, the demand spectrum of the Navy also ranges from heavy machinery, .

Crest of Navy warship 'Surat' to be unveiled in city it's named after

The crest of Indian Navy's latest warship 'Surat' will be unveiled by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the presence of the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and other senior officers on Monday. This is the first warship to be named after a city of Gujarat and this is also the first time the unveiling of the crest of a warship is being undertaken in the very city after which it has been named, a Press Information Bureau release said on Sunday The ceremony to unveil the crest will be held in Surat, with Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command and Rear Admiral Anil Jaggi, Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area in attendance, the release informed. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had launched this indigenously constructed ship, which is a guided missile destroyer, in March last year at Mumbai. "Amongst the latest frontline 'warship projects' under construction, the 'Project 15B' programme involves construction of fo

Navy sailor dies in helicopter accident at military base in Kochi

A sailor of the Indian Navy died on Saturday in an accident involving a helicopter at a naval base in Kochi. Yogendra Singh, who was a leading airman, died when the helicopter met with the accident while taxiing at at INS Garuda of the Southern Naval Command, officials said. Yadav hailed from Madhya Pradesh. "A Chetak helicopter met with a ground accident today during maintenance taxi checks at INS Garuda, Kochi, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of one ground crew," the Navy said in a brief statement. It said a 'Board of Inquiry" has been ordered to investigate the cause of accident. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and all personnel of Indian Navy mourned the loss of life and pay tribute to Yogendra Singh, the Navy said.

Indian Navy chief offers to run warship training hub for regional states

In order to bring together like-minded maritime nations of South and South Eastern Asia, the Indian Navy began hosting the Goa Maritime Conclave

EAM S Jaishankar meets family of 8 navy personnel, assures support

The eight former Indian Navy personnel were involved in providing training services to Qatar's armed forces

The Qatar espionage case: Unanswered questions

The truth in matters of alleged espionage, especially involving third countries, however, is often like peeling an onion. Each layer uncovers another layer of truth

INS Sumedha participates in maiden India-EU Joint Naval Exercise 2023

INS Sumedha, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, participated in the maiden India-EU Joint Naval Exercise 2023 from October 24-26.The exercise was conducted in two phases, which included a sea phase on October 24, followed by a harbour phase from 25 to 26 October 2023 at Tema, Ghana."INSSumedha's participation in the maiden #India - #EuropeanUnion Joint Naval Exercise & the anti-piracy patrols in Gulf of Guinea region - 12,000 Nautical Miles (22,200 km) from India stands testimony to the #IndianNavy's enhanced access, reach & sustenance," the Indian Navy posted on X.The sea phase witnessed air and surface exercises such as communication drills, anti-piracy and cross-deck helicopter operations.The harbour phase involved wide-ranging activities comprising cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, knowledge sharing and discussions on contingencies for the exchange of best practices among Indian and EU navies.The joint exercise at sea and professional ...

India will fight legal battle to bring back its 8 nationals from Qatar: BJP

India will fight a legal battle to bring back all eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been handed down death sentence by a court in Qatar, the BJP said on Friday. Replying to a related question at a press conference here at the party headquarters, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok said the Ministry of External Affairs is already looking into the matter. "And, India has duly placed its stand also on the issue," he told reporters. "We are surprised to see that such things also happen. We will fight a legal battle in this matter. The international court of justice is there. I think government of India will place its stand and we will definitely succeed in bringing them back from there," Alok added. The eight former Indian Navy personnel were on Thursday handed down death sentence by a court in Qatar, a verdict that was described as "deeply shocking" by India as it vowed to explore all legal options in the case. The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra,