Article Posted on : - May 11, 2015

PORBANDAR (PTI): Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan on Saturday said the maritime force regularly monitors activities of Chinese and other navies, and sought to play down deployment of submarines in Indian Ocean by the Communist nation.

The Navy, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative, has taken lead in manufacturing indigenous warships and submarines, he told reporters.

"PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy has been operating and deploying its assets in the Indian Ocean since 2008 as part of their anti-piracy escort force.

"About two to three ships or sometime more are deployed regularly in the region (by PLA). Along with the surface ships they occasionally deploy submarines as well," said Dhowan when asked about recent reports of presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean.

"These are deployed for the Gulf of Aden and the piracy patrol. The Indian Navy continuously monitors all activities in our immediate area of interest and keeps a track on activities of various navies."

To a question on the Prime Minister calling a meeting of the chiefs of armed forces to discuss Make in India vision in defence sector, the Admiral said the Navy has taken a lead to manufacture indigenous warships and submarines.

"Indigenisation and self-reliance are firmly anchored in the Navy's blue print for the future. This process started more than 50 years ago with the construction of first indigenous warship (INS Ajey) in 1961," Dhowan stated.

"We established our first design directorate way back in 1964. Today, we have a full-fledged unit which designs our ships and as well as submarines. Currently, nearly 48 ships and submarines are under-construction at Indian shipyards.

"It is our endeavour to have 100 per cent indigenous contents in our future warships," the Navy chief added.