The Indian Navy has set up a 2047 deadline to become completely self-reliant in all areas of sea power, the country's Chief of Naval Staff has said.
According to the Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, attaining self-reliance was crucial so that "India continues to ride the waves", especially when the world was navigating through challenging times, with conflicts in the Middle East and Europe making a huge impact on the security dynamics in the region.
According to the Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, attaining self-reliance was crucial so that "India continues to ride the waves", especially when the world was navigating through challenging times, with conflicts in the Middle East and Europe making a huge impact on the security dynamics in the region.
"We want to be a fully aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Navy by 2047, a 'post-modern Navy' as Geoffrey Till says in his book Sea Power, that is what we want to achieve. I think, 2047 is far away, perhaps we will achieve that even before that," Kumar stated at a public event in Delhi.
He stressed that the Indian Navy was going through a transformative phase wherein it was not only adapting to the fast-changing methods of warfare, including the induction of drones in its arsenal, but it was also shunning symbols of the colonial era.
For instance, the world's largest democratic nation's blue water force adopted a new ensign in 2022.
For instance, the world's largest democratic nation's blue water force adopted a new ensign in 2022.
"The Navy itself is undergoing transformation ... be it 'ghulami ki mansikta se mukti (freedom from colonial mindset)' or 'virasat pe garv (proud of heritage)'.... There is criticism from many quarters, but we are transforming rapidly. And, it is catching pace. We want to keep in step with what is happening in our country," he noted.