Date:07/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/07/stories/2006050704790800.htm

National

Focus on Navy's influence on land operations

Arunkumar Bhatt

Future naval wars will be of high intensity: Admiral Arun Prakash

ONBOARD INS VIRAAT: The recently held conference of naval commanders deeply examined the question of how the Navy can influence a war on land, according to Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash.

Admiral Prakash said that the role of a navy to influence land operations had attracted a fresh look in view of the operations of the U.S. Navy in land-locked Afghanistan. He was addressing reporters onboard this aircraft carrier during a special exercise for the Prime Minister that concluded on Saturday in the Arabian Sea.

The naval commanders also considered new challenges of information and communication technology leveraged net-centric warfare in which sensors and weapons on various platforms such as surface ships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and satellites are integrated with computer links. Net-centric warfare enables a commander to fight a battle from multi-platforms in multi-dimensions in real time.

Admiral Prakash said a future naval war would be very short and of very high intensity.

He said the naval commanders' conference also reviewed the ongoing process of infusion of high technology in the Navy and its impact on the naval operations, force levels and combat capabilities.

He stressed on improving the force level of the Navy so that it could fully meet the challenges of maritime defence.

The number of ships and aircraft with the Navy was not enough. There was a need for enhancing the productivity of the shipyards. He did not say how many ships and aircraft were needed.

But steps were being taken to improve the situation, he said.

The Government was considering acquisition of maritime reconnaissance aircraft in about five to six years when the second aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya , and other ships under construction, joined the Navy.

He said the Navy had no problem in interacting even with the Pakistani Navy if the political situation improved.

Both navies used to participate in the Commonwealth exercises till the 1960s.