The Indian Navy is committed to promoting self-reliance in military technology,” said Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, while inaugurating a Naval technology seminar organised by the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at the Southern Naval Command.

“The momentous economic growth of the nation has to be sustained by suitable security measures. Accordingly, the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan lays down a force level of 200 ships, 600 aircraft and about 20 submarines apart from shore-based assets and infrastructure,” said the Admiral.

Elaborating the increasing role of the Navy in the context, the Admiral said that patrolling the region between east coast of Africa and the Malacca Straits, frequent forays into the Gulf and Red Sea as also establishing a reach in the Mediterranean, South China Sea and beyond, has become vital. While lauding BEL for customer engagement initiatives, Admiral Soni also sought good waterfront support infrastructure backed by a sound fault finding and repair system as well as adequate spares inventory.

Anil Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, said that BEL is proud to partner in Indian Navy’s blue water aspirations. Three new SBUs for missiles, satellites and communication systems have been set up. He also reminded the audience of the fruitful partnership with the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) at Kochi which resulted in the production of a number of new-generation sonars for the ships and submarines of the Navy. Coastal surveillance system project by BEL has already been commissioned in Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. “BEL is also involved in setting up similar infrastructure at Mauritius and Seychelles. Product Support Centre for NPOL Cochin Shipyard and Naval Ship Repair Yard Kochi, is already functioning from KINFRA Kochi.”

Latest communication equipment, night vision devices, modern commando information systems and other electronics intensive hardware were on display at the product exhibition. BEL has been conducting such customer engagement initiatives since 2010.