Indian Navy Commanders Conference Gets Underway
The Indian Naval Commanders' Conference meets annually to deliberate upon major operational issues with regard to the defense of the nation's maritime interest, coastal security, defense of national assets at sea, naval strategy, its own operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two service. The conference is being held at the Western Naval Command Headquarters' at Mumbai from May 7-9 2008. The conference would be inaugurated by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff and would be attended by the highest echelons of the navy from the Integrated Headquarters at , three command headquarters and two fleets.
India Aims for Blue-Water Navy
A truly blue-water Navy with strategic reach to operate from Africa's eastern coast right up to Malacca Straits. A satellite networked-force with maritime surveillance capabilities to keep tabs on the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR). That, in short, is the mantra of Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who took over as the India's Navy chief from Admiral Arun Prakash. It's certainly required with maritime security now becoming inextricably entwined with overall strategic policy, with the fact that both China and Pakistan are taking rapid strides towards boosting their naval capabilities. India is dependent on sea-borne trade, with 90 percent of its total trade by volume being transported through waterways. It also has to keep track of its vast Economic Exclusive Zone.
