Indian Defense
‘Global Commons Can Change To Contested Seas In Indo-Pacific,’ Warns Indian Navy Chief R Hari Kumar
New Delhi: Indian Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Wednesday that owing to the increased presence of multi-national forces in Indo-Pacific and differing interpretations of international laws, there is a fear that the Region’s ‘Global Commons’ can change to ‘Contested Seas’.
He also pointed out that the number of violations of the established code of conduct in the South China Sea has grown with the Chinese military bullying the fishermen and clearly poses a threat to the discipline of the sea.
Highlighting the varying interpretations regarding the geographical definition of the Indo-Pacific, Indian Naval chief said, “For Bharat, it extends from the Eastern shores of Africa to the Western shores of America. For the US, it stretches from its Pacific Coastline to the Indian Ocean. But, boundaries are not as important when it comes to defining the Indo-Pacific.”
He said, “More than 50 warships of extra-regional forces remain deployed in the Indian Ocean Region for various missions, including for anti-piracy patrol off the Gulf of Aden, and the wider Indo-Pacific also has significant naval presence. Owing to the increased presence of multi-national forces, and differing interpretations of international laws, there is this fear that the Region’s ‘Global Commons’ can change to ‘Contested Seas'”.
He was speaking at the Seminar where he emphasised upon the ‘Geopolitical Impacts Upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity, highlighting the multi-faceted linkages between all seven pillars of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), including “Maritime Security” and “Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport”.
While the IPOI provides first-order-specificity to India’s maritime policy, guided by the SAGAR Vision, he said, “This edition of the IPRD seeks to identify second-order-specificities that could enable the Indo-Pacific Region to remain safe, stable and secure.”
“The fragile security situation in the South China Sea, where the growing number of instances of bullying of smaller navies, including fishermen, by the Chinese militia or its navy, in addition to the almost weekly happening of unsafe monomers or violations of established codes of conduct or confidence-building measures by shipmen aircraft, poses a clear and present danger to the good order and discipline at sea,” he said.
While addressing the annual apex-level international conference of the Indian Navy, ‘The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023’, the Navy chief underscored that the Bhartiya Nausena (Indian Navy) has prioritised its efforts to play a more constructive role towards ensuring maritime connectivity across the region and underlined it in three significant points.
Admiral Hari Kumar explained the significance of facing common maritime challenges with a ‘participative’ and ‘inclusive’ approach to tackling common maritime challenges.
He said, “The first is to support harnessing of the multitude of competencies that are resident amongst each one of our navies. To this end, we have prioritised creation of a participative and inclusive ecosystem for everyone to participate as an equal partner while tackling common maritime challenges. The recently concluded Goa Maritime Conclave, where 12 navies of our immediate maritime neighbourhood got together to discuss a mitigating framework for achieving our ‘Common Maritime Priorities’, is a case in point.”
He underscored that the building trust within the engaging partner countries and marked that the “Trust cannot be surged or built in a day, a week or even a month”.
He stated, “The second aspect is engaging partner nations to develop interoperability and trust. Trust cannot be surged or built in a day, a week or even a month. We understand that building trust requires sustained and continued engagement between friends. Initiatives such as IPRD are aimed at fostering such trust. When we meet, interact, discuss, work and operate together, we not only learn from each other, but also develop trust.”
He added, “The final element is focusing on the persistent problems faced by regional nations on a day-to-day basis. Addressing these problems together make the multilateral constructs more output oriented. We want to make a real contribution to a freer, more open and increasingly inclusive global commons by collaborating with like-minded nations.”
Admiral Hari also highlighted that the blockage of Suez Canal by MV Ever Green in 2021 and said that the incident reminds of how economic security could be threatened by a small incident.
He said, “Blockage of Suez Canal by MV Ever Green in 2021. Though it was not an outcome of military contestation or conflict, this incident is a stark reminder of how economic security could be threatened by a small incident. The Suez Canal – 193 km long reduces the travel distance between Europe and Asia by nearly 6,500 kms, caters for 12% of global trade, allows transit of one million barrels of oil each day, and contributes to 2% of Egypt’s GDP.”
He said further, “This incident, which lasted mere six days, resulted in about 450 ships waiting to transit the canal and an estimated economic loss of 60 billion dollars to the global economy. more than individual GDPs of approximately 120 countries.”
The Naval Chief also went on to mention the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and said that the conflict has disrupted grain exports from both war-engaged countries and has sparked a ‘global panic’.
The naval chief stated, “That brings me to the second incident-the disruption of Black Sea shipping lanes during the ongoing conflict in Europe. This conflict had disturbed grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, which together provide 30% wheat, 75% sunflower oil and 20% maize of world’s supply.” This sparked global panic, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, which rely on grain imports from the Region.”
He added, “The World Food Programme stated that food security in the Region has grown increasingly precarious, with nine countries under moderate or high risk of serious hunger. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what a disruption – leave apart a complete blockade – could cause to the world & world economy.”
The South China Sea is a volatile region. A misjudgment or miscalculation on the ground could lead to an uncontrollable situation, given the proximity of rival maritime forces and heightened tensions, Collin Koh, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, based at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, writes in Channel News Asia.
The recent collision between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine resupply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal on October 22 is just the latest in a series of incidents in the South China Sea. These types of incidents trigger a confrontation between China and the United States. While the risk of a deliberate war appears low, the possibility of accidental conflict should not be underestimated, Channel News Asia article reported.
Moreover, expressing concern about the East and South China Seas, the G7 members at the group’s Foreign ministers’ meeting strongly opposed China’s militarization and other provocative activities, any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
Further reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the G7 members called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
The G7 members called on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and not to conduct “interference activities” aimed at undermining the security and safety of their communities, the integrity of their democratic institutions and their economic prosperity, the US State Department said in a statement.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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