Navy should remain a 'superior force' in Indian Ocean: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said that the Indian Navy must remain a "superior force" in the Indian Ocean region and assured that the government would extend full support for making it a truly bluewater navy.

Addressing the sailors and officers of the newly-inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya after witnessing two days of Theatre Readiness Operational Level Exercise (TROPEX-2015), off the coast of Goa in the Arabian Sea, Parrikar said his stay on board the vessel had been instructive.

He said he is can now understand better the many difficult situations that defence forces, especially sailors and naval officers, face while ensuring the safety and security of the nation.

Parrikar was accompanied by Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral AK Chopra.

During the exercise, Parrikar and others were provided an overview of the multi-dimensional capabilities of the navy.

The navy demonstrated multiple facets of operations during his stay which encompassed a variety of weapons firing, MiG 29K and Sea Harrier operations from two aircraft carriers -- the other being INS Viraat -- integration of the P8I aircraft with fleet, and operations by the navy's Marine Commandos.

INS Vikramaditya was inducted into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June last year.

The Defence Minister also witnessed a successful and impressive vertical launch of the Brahmos, the supersonic long range anti-ship cruise missile, from the recently commissioned stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, a milestone in itself.

A critical part of Anti-Missile Defence being surface-to- air Missiles (SAM), the Defence Minister last night witnessed the successful interception of a fast, low-flying, surface-to- surface missile by a SAM.

Parrikar also watched a full-scale air power demonstration from INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat involving MiG 29-Ks, Sea Harriers, Sea-kings, UH3H, Advanced Light Helicopters and Chetaks, an official statement said.

The recently-acquired MiG 29-Ks proved their mettle by showing the STOBAR operations, including the bombing runs.

Parrikar also witnessed naval commandos MARCOS demonstrate insertion and extraction in the middle of the ocean by slithering. During that drill, the Defence Minister also saw first hand the potency of the upgraded Sea Harriers, particularly in the networked environment, the statement said.