Indian Navy will be completely 'atmanirbhar' force by 2047: Chief of Naval Staff
Indian Navy is going through a great transformation, shedding all that has been colonial, and will be a completely 'atmanirbhar' force by 2047, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar here said.
Talking to the media here after interacting with Navy veterans, Hari Kumar said the Indian Navy has achieved great heights through indigenisation and could manufacture 33 submarines and 63 ships on its own.
«Our aim is to become completely atmanirbhar by 2047, and by then all the submarines, aircraft and weapons will be made in India,» the Navy Chief said. He said 75 challenges were given to the industry and received a great response from the industry. «Some of them have already got into a contract and some products have already been inducted. A lot of innovative technology and products are being developed,» Hari Kumar said.
He said the force would also become much younger in the next seven years through the Agniveer recruitment programme. He said the average age of the Naval staff will be 26. «We are trying to capitalise on the demographic dividend,» he said. He said the Agniveers joining the Navy are very tech-savvy and respond really well to the new technological challenges and adapt well to the changing demands. «They are contributing really well. They are very keen, motivated.»
Admiral Hari Kumar said the Navy is also keen on utilising the Vizhinjam port for its requirements. He said they had initial talks with the Adani group, but it was not taken forward. India's indigenous surface-to-surface missile, Brahmos,
