May 13, 2013: “Indian Navy is committed to promoting self-reliance in military technology,” said Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The officer said this while inaugurating a Naval technology seminar organised by Bharat Electronics Limited at Southern Naval Command. “The momentous economic growth of the nation has to be sustained by suitable security measures. Accordingly, the Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan lays down a force level of 200 ships, 600 aircraft and about 20 submarines apart from shore-based assets and infrastructure,” said the Admiral. Elaborating the increasing role of the Navy in the context, the Admiral said that patrolling the region between east coast of Africa and the Malacca straits, frequent forays into the Gulf and Red Sea as also establishing a reach in the Mediterranean, South China Sea and beyond, has become vital. While lauding BEL for this customer engagement initiative, Admiral Soni also sought good waterfront support infrastructure backed by a sound fault finding and repair system as well as adequate spares inventory.

Anil Kumar, the Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, said that BEL is proud to partner in Indian Navy’s blue water aspirations. Three new SBUs for missiles, satellites and communication systems have been set up. He also reminded the audience of the fruitful partnership with Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) at Kochi which resulted in the production of a number of new generation sonars for the ships and submarines of the Navy. Coastal surveillance system project by BEL has already been commissioned in Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra. “BEL is also involved in setting up similar infrastructure at Mauritius and Seychelles. Product Support Centre for NPOL, Cochin Shipyard and Naval Ship Repair Yard Kochi, is already functioning from KINFRA Kochi,” said Anil Kumar.

A product exhibition showcasing various products of Bharat Electronics was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Soni on the occasion. Latest communication equipment, night vision devices, modern commando information systems and other electronics intensive hardware was on display. BEL has been conducting such customer engagement initiatives since 2010. The navratna PSU, a defence electronics giant, has their production facilities spread around nine factories across India catering to the Indian armed forces. Senior Directors of Bharat Electronics, S. Ananthanarayanan, Director NPOL, Rear Admiral Ashok Kumar, Chief of Staff Southern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Madhusudanan, Admiral Superintendent Naval Ship Repair Yard, Kochi, senior Directors of Bharat Electronics Limited and others attended the seminar. Technical papers which are contemporary and in tune with the realistic needs of the Navy were also presented.