Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi said on Monday that the deal with France for 26 Rafale-M (Marine) of the Navy variant is about to be finalised. Along with this, talks on a deal for 3 Scorpin submarines are also in the final stages. The deal is likely to be finalized by January 2025.
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that 96 ships and submarines will be inducted into the Indian Navy in the next 10 years. 62 ships and one submarine are currently under construction. One ship per month will be inducted into the naval fleet till December 2025.
In July 2023, the Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of Rafale-M jets from France, which will be deployed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Asked about Pakistan's naval fleet of 50 ships, Admiral Tripathi said, looking at Pakistan's economy, it is surprising how they are getting ships and submarines. We are ready to face every possible threat from China-Pakistan.
Indigenous nuclear powered submarines will be inducted by 2036 India's first nuclear powered submarine (SSN) will be operational by 2036-37, the Navy chief said. The approval for its construction was received from the government only 2 months ago. The second submarine will also be commissioned within two years of the commissioning of the first submarine. Indian Navy will build 6 such submarines.
Why does the Navy need nuclear submarines? Nuclear powered strike submarines can stay underwater for long periods of time. Apart from this, India has Diesel Electric and Diesel Sambrin. Diesel-electric submarines have to surface at least once a day to charge batteries. Meanwhile there is a threat of attack on submarines.
Diesel submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion can stay underwater for long periods of time, but these submarines have to compromise on onboard weapons as well as speed. So the Navy sought nuclear-powered strike submarines.
Navy Day Celebration on December 4, the President will attend President Draupadi Murmu and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the Navy Day celebrations to be held on December 4 in Puri, Odisha. In this event, more than 15 ships, more than 40 aircraft, several helicopters, submarines and drones of the Indian Navy will showcase their capabilities off the coast of Puri Blue Beach. This will also be followed by a laser and drone show.
Navy Day Rehearsal Photos
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
