Indian Navy releases vision document on naval aviation

Bengaluru: With cutting-edge technologies increasingly dominating warfare, the Indian Navy on Wednesday released a naval aviation roadmap identifying the platforms, weapons and sensors that the maritime force will require to have an edge over the enemy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The roadmap includes fifth generation deck-based fighter aircraft, long and medium range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, amphibious aircraft, utility and heavy lift helicopters, different types of remotely piloted aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.

“By 2047, we want to be fully 'Atmanirbhar' on platforms, weapons and sensors. The entire supporting ecosystem should also be Indian,” Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said here after releasing the document.

“We have looked at our deficiencies and vulnerabilities and presented them to the industry seeking solutions. We are a growing service that needs disruptive and niche technologies,” he said.

Releasing the document, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said that out of 40 ships and submarines inducted in the navy in the last 10 years, 39 were made in India.

Other technologies that the navy will explore include direct energy weapons, hypersonic missiles, loitering munition and advanced early warning bubbles around the ships.

A tech boost to maritime air power will have a key role in securing India’s maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region and beyond, according to the vision document, which will be revisited every five years because of rapid changes in the field of technology.