Navy to acquire 170 ships by 2035, says ENC top brass
Initiates Industry Yatras to match existing industrial capabilities with Navy’s requirements
Visakhapatnam: In order to ensure that more industry partners join the journey of ‘Atmanirbharta,’ the Indian Navy has initiated “Industry Yatras”, wherein multidisciplinary teams visit various industrial corridors to match existing industrial capabilities with Navy’s requirements,” said Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, on Friday.
Addressing the CII Southern Regional Council meeting here, he said over the years, the Indian Navy has surged ahead in enhancing the indigenous content in ship and submarine design, construction material, machinery, equipment, and systems. This would not have been possible without the proactive and whole-hearted support of the Indian industry, said the Vice Admiral Pendharkar.
“As we strive towards acquiring a force level of about 170 ships and submarines by 2035, our thrust remains steadfastly on indigenous design and construction, as also, progressive increase in the indigenous content of systems on board these platforms. Presently, 67 ships are under construction of which 65 are in Indian shipyards,” he informed.
The ENC chief said “we are also optimistic on the Atmanirbharta campaign due to the supportive policy framework that is being progressively put in place. A dedicated organisation has been put in place in the Navy, to support Atmanirbharta, wherein the Directorate of Indigenisation (DoI) at NHQ (naval headquarters), and indigenisation units at command level are steering a large number of indigenisation projects for import substitution, he added.
The Directorate of Indigenisation has linked 5,629 items in inventory as import substitutes that have been indigenously developed. DoI is currently steering 107 projects amounting to Rs 3218.5 crore. Of these, 52 contracts amounting to Rs 680 crore have already been concluded, he further added.
The Navy is also progressing projects with more than 160 MSMEs, startups and large industry, and is at the forefront with 100 projects under iDEX Scheme, 25 projects under the TDF Scheme, and 37 projects under MAKE Scheme, he said.
