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Antony reviews security preparedness
Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday reviewed the overall security situation in the country and neighbourhood, including Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, and operational preparedness of the Armed forces to deal with any exigency.
National Security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Army chief General VK Singh, Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma briefed the Minister here about the strategic scenario in the subcontinent.
Political situation in Pakistan and its security implications for India, ongoing violence in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan and growing military might of China were some of the key issues discussed in the meeting, sources said.
Overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast also came up for discussion and Antony took stock of operational preparedness of the services to meet internal and external challenge, they said.
Meanwhile, the Minister accompanied by the Navy chief will spend two days on warships off the coast of Visakhapatnam beginning Tuesday to witness Theatre Level Operational Preparedness Exercise ‘Tropex.’ It is a major annual exercise of the combined fleets of the Navy conducted to test the Navy’s preparedness to meet any contingency.
Almost 40 ships from the two fleets of western and eastern command as also submarines, 13 naval aircraft and UAVs are participating in the exercise. Units of the Indian coast guard and 18 aircraft of the IAF will also take part in the high level exercise and Antony will witness missile firing, air defence exercises and anti-submarine warfare, Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.
The Minister is also expected to review the progress of first indigenously designed nuclear powered submarine Arihant. It will be joined by Russian built nuclear submarine Nerpa in the next few days.
India has acquired the Russian submarine on a ten year lease worth over three billion dollars. The submarine was handed over to the Navy last month in Russia and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam in the next few days, sources said here on Monday.
The Navy had hired a Russian nuclear powered submarine for ten years in 1980 and the vessel was renamed INS Chakra. The submarine was returned to Russia and the second submarine will also carry the same name, they said.
This submarine will help Navy engineers and technicians besides the operating crew to learn complex operations and maintenance of a nuclear submarine and these standard operating procedures will come in handy when Arihant is ready for sea trials and subsequent induction in the next five years.
Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday reviewed the overall security situation in the country and neighbourhood, including Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, and operational preparedness of the Armed forces to deal with any exigency.
National Security adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Army chief General VK Singh, Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma briefed the Minister here about the strategic scenario in the subcontinent.
Political situation in Pakistan and its security implications for India, ongoing violence in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan and growing military might of China were some of the key issues discussed in the meeting, sources said.
Overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast also came up for discussion and Antony took stock of operational preparedness of the services to meet internal and external challenge, they said.
Meanwhile, the Minister accompanied by the Navy chief will spend two days on warships off the coast of Visakhapatnam beginning Tuesday to witness Theatre Level Operational Preparedness Exercise ‘Tropex.’ It is a major annual exercise of the combined fleets of the Navy conducted to test the Navy’s preparedness to meet any contingency.
Almost 40 ships from the two fleets of western and eastern command as also submarines, 13 naval aircraft and UAVs are participating in the exercise. Units of the Indian coast guard and 18 aircraft of the IAF will also take part in the high level exercise and Antony will witness missile firing, air defence exercises and anti-submarine warfare, Defence Ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.
The Minister is also expected to review the progress of first indigenously designed nuclear powered submarine Arihant. It will be joined by Russian built nuclear submarine Nerpa in the next few days.
India has acquired the Russian submarine on a ten year lease worth over three billion dollars. The submarine was handed over to the Navy last month in Russia and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam in the next few days, sources said here on Monday.
The Navy had hired a Russian nuclear powered submarine for ten years in 1980 and the vessel was renamed INS Chakra. The submarine was returned to Russia and the second submarine will also carry the same name, they said.
This submarine will help Navy engineers and technicians besides the operating crew to learn complex operations and maintenance of a nuclear submarine and these standard operating procedures will come in handy when Arihant is ready for sea trials and subsequent induction in the next five years.
