ON BOARD IAF RAJHANS: India is on the threshold of developing nuclear propulsion technology for sub- ‘marines, chief of naval staff Admiral L. Ramdas has said.

Talking to newsmen on his way back from Vishakapatnam, the port city on India’s east coast, after commissioning a corvette class warship and launching an offshore patrol vessel, Admiral Ramdas said Indian navy had now familiarized itself with all aspects of running and operating a nuclear submarine as it “is the technology of the future”.

He said the country’s scientists and naval experts were working to develop the submarine nuclear propulsion technology, which would enable India 10 produce indigenously nuclear submarines.

The naval chief’s observation ‘assumes significance in view of reports of Pakistan acquiring Chi- nese nuclear submarine.

According to reports, the Pakistani acquired Chinese nuclear submarine also does not have 2 weapon platforms, like the Charlie class Soviet nuclear submarine “INS Chakra” which Indian navy returned to the Soviet navy after thee year training lease.

The nuclear submarines have Admiral Ramdas outlined the naval plans to go in for an amphibious warfare school, acquiring onshore vertical helicopter operational capability and other ‘such modernization plans.

Agreeing that there was a “slowing down” of plans, the   naval chief attributed this to economic problems facing the country, but added that this in no way was being allowed to dilute naval readiness to face any challenge.

Admiral Ramdas said the navy, unlike the other two services, was not that badly hit by shortage of supplies and spare parts from the Soviet Union as the country had a big indigenous production available.

Indian navy runs a formidable fleet of Kashin class destroyers acquired from Soviet Union be- sides a number of Soviet-made K class Soviet missile boats. All these warships, which have a deadly arsenal of ship-to-ship beyond visual range missiles ship-to-air missiles and 10 t0 14 inch guns which use Soviet sup- plied munitions.

The naval chief stressed the need for an integrated thinking while making plans for safeguarding the Country’s maritime interests. He also laid emphasis on the need 10 develop technology for deep-sea mining, as this area could be a source of conflict in the future.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 1, 1991