Defence Minister Addresses Top Naval Commanders Onboard INS Vikrant

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed India's maritime security challenges with the top naval commanders onboard the country's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea, amid China's burgeoning military posturing in

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed India's maritime security challenges with the top naval commanders onboard the country's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea, amid China's burgeoning military posturing in the Indian Ocean region.

As the 43,000-tonne steel behemoth, accompanied by a fleet of over 20 frontline frigates, destroyers and submarines, sailed across the high seas, the defence minister, sitting inside the Main Briefing Room of the nearly 262-metre long and 59-metre tall ship, complimented the naval commanders for fiercely protecting India's maritime interests in the strategic waters.

Before addressing the commanders at the biannual naval conference, Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other naval commanders witnessed a mega wargame involving Vikrant, the accompanying ships and almost all attack aircraft including MiG-29K deck-based jets.

"It is a historic occasion," Admiral R Hari Kumar said.