Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday that the most recent of these deployments was in October when a Chinese submarine was in the Indian Ocean Region for a month.
The Chinese Navy has sent at least eight submarine missions since 2013 in the Indian Ocean Region that occasionally closed in on Indian waters, reaching up till Colombo and Karachi, DNA has learnt.
According to intelligence reports accessed by this paper, each of the missions lasted around a month. Backed by a regular ship, the deployments included nuclear as well as non-nuclear submarines.
The reports identified an alternating trend of sending a conventional submarine and a nuclear sub to follow it.
Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday that the most recent of these deployments was in October when a Chinese submarine was in the Indian Ocean Region for a month.
"There are six to eight Chinese ships in the Indian Ocean Region at a time. This includes an anti-piracy escort force of three ships in the Gulf of Aden," he said.
Last year, 12 Chinese naval units were operating in the Indian Ocean Region. These included Luyang class III destoryers, as well as Chongmingdao, the Chinese Navy's sumbarine supporet for one of the submarines that was later docked in Karachi for replacement, sources said.
The increased frequency of Chinese vessels docked in Karachi and "unusual" activities of their naval units in the Indian Ocean is being closely watched, Navy sources said.
Referring to China and Pakistan, Admiral Lanba said that for the Indian Navy, there is no two-front threat, but there was peril on one front — the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian Navy's satellites, maritime surveillance aircraft and ships have been keeping an eye on the Chinese vessels in the region.
Responding to a question about China increasing its firepower, Admiral Lanba said, "By 2050, we will also have 200 ships and 500 aircraft and we be world-class navy."
The government has approved induction of 56 new warships and six submarines to boost Indian navy's operational capabilities.
India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant, has entered its final phase of construction and is likely to begin sea trials in 2020.
"Induction of Vikrant will provide a significant fillip to the Navy's blue-water capability, increasing the reach and impact of carrier-borne strike forces, both as a means of deterrence as well as during combat operations," he said.
The Navy Chief said that finally, after 10 years since Mumbai 26/11 attacks, the process of installing automated identification transponders on around 2.5 lakh fishing boats had been started as a measure to boost maritime security.
‘200 Indian Warships By 2050’
- On China’s expanding its naval prowess, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Lanba said, ‘By 2050, we will also have 200 ships, 500 aircraft and be a world-class navy.’
- Govt’s already approved induction of 56 warships, six submarines to boost Navy’s operational capabilities
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