New Delhi, July 31, 2004
India needs nuclear submarines and it was upto the government to take a decision in this regard, Admiral Arun Prakash said on Saturday soon after taking over as the new Chief of the Naval Staff.
"Navy needs nuclear submarines but it is upto the government to take a decision on the acquisition," he said after taking over the reins from outgoing Chief Admiral Madhvendera Singh to become the 20th Chief.
Though there have been reports that India was negotiating with Russia to acquire on lease two nuclear-powered 'Akula' class submarines, it is for the first time that a senior official has acknowledged that New Delhi was keen to acquire such a class of submarines.
In a brief interaction with the media, Prakash, who has the distinction of being a Naval fighter pilot donning the IAF uniform in 1971 war to win the 'Vir Chakra', said the force levels in the Navy were dwindling and there was an urgent need to arrest the trend.
Listing his priorities, he said it includes maintaining the present force levels of the Navy in warships, submarines as well as air power by acquisition of more modern indigenous warships and also import submarines.
The new Naval Chief said his force also faced equipment and manpower shortages. "We have to convince the government; we need to overcome them (shortages)," he said.
Prakash said his thrust would be to make the Navy "network centric" by interlinking long range missiles, radars and sensors on the naval warships through satellite and IT to deliver a lethal punch.
India needs nuclear submarines and it was upto the government to take a decision in this regard, Admiral Arun Prakash said on Saturday soon after taking over as the new Chief of the Naval Staff.
"Navy needs nuclear submarines but it is upto the government to take a decision on the acquisition," he said after taking over the reins from outgoing Chief Admiral Madhvendera Singh to become the 20th Chief.
Though there have been reports that India was negotiating with Russia to acquire on lease two nuclear-powered 'Akula' class submarines, it is for the first time that a senior official has acknowledged that New Delhi was keen to acquire such a class of submarines.
In a brief interaction with the media, Prakash, who has the distinction of being a Naval fighter pilot donning the IAF uniform in 1971 war to win the 'Vir Chakra', said the force levels in the Navy were dwindling and there was an urgent need to arrest the trend.
Listing his priorities, he said it includes maintaining the present force levels of the Navy in warships, submarines as well as air power by acquisition of more modern indigenous warships and also import submarines.
The new Naval Chief said his force also faced equipment and manpower shortages. "We have to convince the government; we need to overcome them (shortages)," he said.
Prakash said his thrust would be to make the Navy "network centric" by interlinking long range missiles, radars and sensors on the naval warships through satellite and IT to deliver a lethal punch.
: