Protect Maritime interests at all costs by ensuring a strong Navy: Raksha Mantri

New Delhi, October 27: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has emphasised the need for the Indian Navy to be strong at sea and be ever vigilant to counter any challenges in the maritime domain.

The Defence Minister said, the maritime interests of a nation have a vital relationship with its economic growth and these shall be protected at all costs by ensuring a strong and credible Navy.

Recognising the lead taken by Indian Navy in indigenisation and self-reliance, she stated that it is the collective responsibility of Service Headquarters, the Ministry and the Industry to promote a more vibrant ecosystem percolating down to the MSMEs, to encourage development of equipment and systems in India and to reduce import dependence in the Defence sector.

Nirmala Sitharaman took note of the critical capability shortfalls that the Navy is facing in ship-borne multi-role helicopters, conventional submarines and mine counter measure vessels, which need urgent redressal to maintain the combat edge of the Navy.

Raksha Mantri assured the Commanders’ that that these issues were being given due impetus and efforts were in hand to mitigate these shortcomings at the earliest. She also commended the efforts of the Navy to constructively engage with the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) littorals to build their capacities and enhance their capabilities.