Naval-gazing our way
Indian Navy's recent exploits. Over the last three months, the navy has thwarted Somali pirates, rescued hijacked ships and responded to multiple drone/missile attacks by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
As the Israel-Hamas war raged, the navy showed up in strength to protect crucial sea lanes as a first responder, security provider and resident power in the Indian Ocean region.
It deployed 21 ships, made 19 interventions and rescued more than 100 crew and others, sometimes from the burning deck. And it assured protection to 450 merchant ships carrying essential supplies.
'These are not run-of-the-mill operations. They are sophisticated ops involving commando forces,' a US official commented. Add to the list, the commissioning of INS Jatayu, a new base at Minicoy and the induction of US- made MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare heft.
Finally, consider the simultaneous deployment of 11 submarines and 35 warships — 10 for counter piracy, drones and missile attacks on the western flank, and rest in the Bay of Bengal and southern Indian Ocean. Since the many milestones occurred in a relatively 'compressed time frame, they generated a lot of buzz and attention', the US official said. India's naval renaissance has meant an active presence in the conflict zone, which means some welcome relief for the US Navy.
India's chief of naval staff Admiral R Hari Kumar calls it the 'new and confident Indian Navy' ready to take 'positive, proactive and affirmative
