In his first visit to an operational command after taking over as the Navy chief on April 18, Admiral Robin Dhowan will review operational preparedness of the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Command on Wednesday.
This command’s zone of responsibility is to guard India’s maritime interests in the Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas. India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant is also based in this command besides Russian-made nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra. It was inducted into the Navy two years back on a 10-year lease.
Dhowan, who was appointed Navy chief after Admiral DK Joshi resigned on February 26 owning moral responsibility for a series of mishaps involving warships, will visit operational and training commands of the force in the coming days to take stock of their preparedness, Navy officials said here on Tuesday.Incidentally, Eastern Command chief Vice Admiral Anil Chopra is tipped to take charge of Mumbai-based Western Command after incumbent Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha retired voluntarily when he was superseded and Dhowan was appointed Navy chief.
The Government is also likely to appoint Vice Admiral Sunil lamba, Commandant of National Defence College, as the new Vice Chief of Navy. This post fell vacant after Dhowan was elevated to the top post. lamba is also tipped to be next Chief after Dhowan retires in 2016.Southern Command chief Vice Admiral Satish Soni is likely to take over as the Eastern Command chief after Chopra moves to Western Command and Strategic Forces Command head Vice Admiral S P S Cheema will take over as Kochi-based Southern Command chief.Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Pradeep Chatterjee is expected to head the tri-services Andaman and Nicobar Command in Port Blair and Vice Admiral RK Patnaik will be the new Deputy Chief, sources said. The defence ministry is now going these likely appointments and expected to give the nod in the next few days, officials said.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday reviewed security situation in the country and strategic neighbourhood.The three Services chiefs and National Security Advisor briefed Antony about China and Pakistan’s military strength and India’s military preparedness to meet any threat, officials said.
