Vice-Admiral Girish luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, said on Friday that in view of a “challenging and complex” maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region, the Navy was in a “high degree of operational and combat readiness”.
Interacting with media persons on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya as part of the Navy Day 2016 celebrations, Vice Admiral luthra reiterated the Indian Navy’s resolve towards ensuring safety and security of the country from any challenge or threat originating from the sea.
“The maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region is challenging and complex and that, developments in the region has necessitated high degree of operational and combat readiness. This has led to a very high tempo of operations, including deployments, surveillance and patrolling,” Vice Admiral luthra said.
In this context, Vice Admiral luthra alluded to the conduct of a major exercise named Exercise Paschim leher, wherein large number of ships, submarines and aircraft participated. He said that the exercise was to test and improve our operational readiness, including mobilisation and synchronisation.
Terming the current security scenario as a “”dynamic one”, Vice Admiral luthra said: “Ships, submarines and aircrafts of the command continue to be deployed and tasked in widely dispersed and diverse locations at sea to strengthen maritime defence and security”.
“The Navy is alert, watchful and fully ready to safeguard nation’s maritime interests, and address any threats or challenges that may come up. He said that impetus is also being given towards strengthening physical security, as well as Cyber Security,” he said.
The Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day on 04 Dec every year, the date on which during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, naval ships, armed to the teeth, stealthily maneuvered off Karachi, and unleashed a lethal missile attack that left the port ablaze and destroyed several enemy warships.