INS Arihant has been one of the key highlights for the navy in 2018. The Indian Navy is also expanding its fleet of carrier ships, helicopters and submarines. The Navy chief said India has the capability to have a world class navy in future

Addressing the annual Navy Day press conference, he said the Navy is now planning to add around 56 warships and submarines; it is in the process of adding a new aircraft carrier.

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday (December 3) said India has launched the third and most reliable part of the nuclear triad with the first deterrence patrol of nuclear submarine INS Arihant.

He said the deployment of the INS Arihant has been one of the key highlights for the navy in 2018 and has led to the expansion of India’s nuclear capabilities.

Addressing the annual Navy Day press conference, he said the Navy is now planning to add around 56 warships and submarines; it is in the process of adding a new aircraft carrier.

"The Navy is planning to add 56 warships and submarines to increase its capacity. It will be in addition to 32 warships under construction, he said.

He also informed that carrier INS Vikrant is in its third and final state of construction and will be inducted soon.

The long-term shortage in naval helicopter fleet also be addressed soon, the navy chief assured. New light utility helicopters and 24 multi-role choppers will be procured under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Hope that in coming months, LPD, fleet support vessels and MSMEs contracts will be finalised, he said.

Will Be World-Class Navy’

Lanba said India will soon become a world class navy despite the presence of China. Explaining that India has just has one front (Indian Ocean), he said, For China, we are more than capable in the Indian Ocean.

He also said that the Indian Navy is overwhelmingly ahead of Pakistan’s navy.

As far as Indian Navy is concerned, we do not have two fronts. We have one and that is Indian Ocean. The balance of power in Indian Ocean rests with us, he said on possibility of a two-front war.

Commenting on the recent naval exercises, he said the country has favourable ties with India and called for more such exercises to strengthen its stronghold on the Indian Ocean.

Better Equipped For Attack

Recalling the harrowing 26/11 terror attack which left at least 164 people dead and many injured, Lanba said the situation has improved now and coastal security units are better-equipped to deal with naval invasions.

Intelligence inputs come to us time to time. We are better integrated and equipped, he said.

Lanba assured citizens of the nation that the Navy has stepped up its monitoring activity to ensure maximum vigilance and protection.