Stressing the growing need for self-reliance in defence industry, Army Chief General M M Naravane on Thursday said the commissioning of anti-submarine warfare vessel INS Kavaratti is a major step in ensuring security of maritime domain of the country.
This message came in the backdrop of China’s growing maritime prowess and muscle flexing in the Indian Ocean besides the South China Sea. The increased Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean has strategic implications for India.
Commissioning the indigenously designed and built INS Kavaratti in Visakhapatnam, the Army Chief said the “commissioning of INS Kavaratti marks yet another significant step in securing our country’s maritime goals. I congratulate and extend my best wishes to Team Kavaratti,” said Naravane.
“The ship derives the name from the beautiful capital of the Lakshadweep island, Kavaratti. This indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) vessel is equipped with advanced weapons, composite superstructure and stealth features is a beauty by itself. It has been constructed with
numerous novel design features and indigenous equipment fit is demonstrative of collective abilities in realising the aim of making India Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.