House panel apprised of collusive threat from China and Pakistan

Parliamentary panel on defence appraised of the possible collusive threat from both China and Pakistan and the former’s role in expansion of Pakistan’s Navy.

The Indian Navy currently has a strength of around 130 ships and submarines and while the target is to have a 200-ship Navy, given the current trajectory it is likely to have 155-160 ships, Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs Gen. Anil Chauhan has said in a submission to the Parliamentary standing committee on defence.

This is while the Chinese Navy with around 355 ships has grown to be the world’s largest Navy in terms of numbers. The committee was appraised of the possible collusive threat from both China and Pakistan and the former’s role in expansion of Pakistan’s Navy.

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“The Indian Navy’s strength today is about 131 ships... Our plan to build the Navy to around 200 ships. But the way we are going now, we will reach between 155-160. In terms of pure numbers, they are very less. However, a few factors have to be kept in mind as these issues are dependent on geography...,” Gen. Chauhan said in the report.

As per the standing committee report tabled in the Parliament in the just concluded session, Gen. Chauhan said that in 4-5 years from now the Chinese Navy will have a strength of about 555 ships. The name of China or Pakistan weren’t directly mentioned and left blank in the report while describing them.

The Indian Navy currently has 143 aircraft and 130 helicopters. In addition, 43 ships and submarines are under construction at various shipyards while initial approval exists for the indigenous construction of 51 ships, six submarines and 111 Naval Utility Helicopters.