AGAINST the backdrop of the Chinese Navy’s rapid expansion and its frequent forays into the Indian Ocean, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Friday that his force is fully capable of confronting any security threat and fully backed the ambitious tri-services reforms that included setting up of a maritime theatre command.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of Navy Day, he said the situation along India’s northern border has added to the security complexities at a time the country was reeling under COVID-19 and that the “dual” scenario continues.

“In these testing times, the Indian Navy aims to stand steadfast in furthering our national and maritime interests. Our focus on maintaining combat and mission readiness resulted in deterring any misadventure in the maritime domain,” he said without elaborating.

On the Chinese Navy’s growing combat capability and presence in the Indian Ocean, the newly-appointed Navy chief said, the ongoing developments and deployments in the region are factored into the Indian Navy’s capability development plans and preparedness. “We are aware of the developments of the Chinese Navy. They have built 138 ships in the last 10 years. Every nation is entitled to have its own capability development. We keep an eye on all developments in our area,” he said.

The Navy chief said China’s PLA Navy has been present in the Indian Ocean Region since 2008 and the Indian Navy has been watching it. Admiral Kumar said that Acceptance of Necessity (approval) has been accorded for 72 projects worth Rs 1,97,359 crore for the Navy and out of which 59 projects worth Rs 1,74,027 crore will be implemented indigenously.

Referring to the theaterisation plan of the Armed Forces, he said the details on setting up of the maritime theatre command are being worked out and they may be finalised by the middle of next year.

As per the plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory under an operational commander.

Admiral Kumar also said that women officers have been appointed on board major warships of the Indian Navy.

Separately, officials said around 28 women officers have been deployed so far in 15 major warships of the Indian Navy and the number is going to go up soon.

“In consonance with the Government of India’s objective to empower women, we have taken measures towards providing additional opportunities for women officers in the Navy. Women officers have been appointed on board almost all major warships,” the Navy Chief said.