<p>The Admiral, who is retiring at the end of the month, expressed his wish to see the commissioning of the 5000 tonne ship before relinquishing office. <br /><br />“IT is my fervent desire to see the Shivalik being commissioned (into the Navy) during my time. She is almost there, but not quite,” Mehta said. <br /><br />Three indigenous stealth frigates are under construction now at Mumbai’s Mazgaon Dock Ltd and four more are in the offing. Eventually, the Navy is planning to create a fleet of 12 Shivaliks.<br /><br />3 more frigates<br /><br />There are also plans to add three more Russian stealth frigates to the current stock of three in the Navy — INS Trishul, Talwar and Tabar.<br /><br />Asked if the Navy has made progress in negotiating the price of Admiral Gorshkov with the Russians, Mehta said talks have been going on with a Russian team visiting Delhi. He said the newly agreed price of the aircraft career will be announced in two days time. <br /><br />Resolving the price stalemate, besides a tight delivery schedule, is vital for initiating an early trial, since the fast approaching winter may deny even the slimmest chance for an open sea trial. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Navy chief admitted that there has been delay in developing six Scorpene submarines at the Mazagaon docks due to delay in importing equipments from France’s DCNS.<br /><br />The components are to be installed in the hull at the Mumbai dock. <br /><br />The department of defence production and MDL are investigating the delay, as the manufacturer is under contractual obligation. “Without doubt we have lost a lot of time,” the Navy chief agreed.<br /><br />The Admiral said the union cabinet would require time to decide on appointing a Maritime Security Advisor on the lines of the National Security Advisor. <br />Despite demands for MSA after the 26/11, the government did not sanction the post while revamping the coastal security management. <br /><br />Nirmal Kumar Verma will become the Navy chief after Admiral’s Mehta’s term of office gets over at the end of the month.<br /></p>
<p>The Admiral, who is retiring at the end of the month, expressed his wish to see the commissioning of the 5000 tonne ship before relinquishing office. <br /><br />“IT is my fervent desire to see the Shivalik being commissioned (into the Navy) during my time. She is almost there, but not quite,” Mehta said. <br /><br />Three indigenous stealth frigates are under construction now at Mumbai’s Mazgaon Dock Ltd and four more are in the offing. Eventually, the Navy is planning to create a fleet of 12 Shivaliks.<br /><br />3 more frigates<br /><br />There are also plans to add three more Russian stealth frigates to the current stock of three in the Navy — INS Trishul, Talwar and Tabar.<br /><br />Asked if the Navy has made progress in negotiating the price of Admiral Gorshkov with the Russians, Mehta said talks have been going on with a Russian team visiting Delhi. He said the newly agreed price of the aircraft career will be announced in two days time. <br /><br />Resolving the price stalemate, besides a tight delivery schedule, is vital for initiating an early trial, since the fast approaching winter may deny even the slimmest chance for an open sea trial. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Navy chief admitted that there has been delay in developing six Scorpene submarines at the Mazagaon docks due to delay in importing equipments from France’s DCNS.<br /><br />The components are to be installed in the hull at the Mumbai dock. <br /><br />The department of defence production and MDL are investigating the delay, as the manufacturer is under contractual obligation. “Without doubt we have lost a lot of time,” the Navy chief agreed.<br /><br />The Admiral said the union cabinet would require time to decide on appointing a Maritime Security Advisor on the lines of the National Security Advisor. <br />Despite demands for MSA after the 26/11, the government did not sanction the post while revamping the coastal security management. <br /><br />Nirmal Kumar Verma will become the Navy chief after Admiral’s Mehta’s term of office gets over at the end of the month.<br /></p>
