New tech is a must at naval bases: Audit

Mumbai: A security audit ordered by the defence ministry following the Pathankot attack has recommended that all defence bases, including naval bases, use new technological solutions to ensure the country’s safety. This was revealed by flag officer, Western Naval Command, vice-admiral Girish Luthra, who was addressing the annual media briefing on board India’s largest aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, ahead of Navy Day on December 4.

Vice-admiral Luthra said that INS Vikramaditya had recently undergone a refitting exercise and had been finished ahead of time, and was now ready for anti-piracy control operations with new underwater equipment. He said that the Indian Navy was keeping a close eye on the naval movements of China, especially after Chinese submarines and warships started passing through Indian waters. The navy is keeping a watch on commercial port Gwadar, set up by China in Pakistan, he added.

Vice-admiral Luthra also denied Pakistan’s claims that they had found Indian submarines in their waters and clarified that as per India’s security needs, the navy would continue deploying aircraft carriers, warships and submarines.

Asked about national security in the wake of the Pathankot and Uri attacks, he said that the western naval command had increased routine patrolling in the sea and the navy was on road to using high-end technology to keep tabs on maritime borders.

Vice-admiral Luthra added that documents related to Scorpene-class submarines, which were recently leaked, dated back to 2010 and the project had undergone so many changes thereafter that the leak did not affect it at all. Nevertheless, a high-level committee was investigating the incident, he said. He also said that INS Kalvari was now facing sea trials and would get commissioned in the Indian Navy soon.