Kochi, Nov 28: Indian Navy must move forward on a 'war footing' to a networked system of warfare, Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh, said today. While all other navies have been networked, we have not been networked so far', Admiral Singh said addressing past and present gunnery officers at the INS Dronacharya, the gunnery training establishment at nearby Fort Kochi.

Much has changed in the gunnery world. In the last six years there had been the largest influx of missiles ever into the navy with six missiles being inducted. Brahmos, the latest entrant, will also be inducted in a couple of years. A navy which cannot influence the land battle will be irrelevant, he said adding 'we now have this capability with Brahmos coming in'.

The Indian Navy was being modernised. But only a few ships were having 'Baraks' system used to equip warships with the anti-missiles, he said.

In future there will be no time to prepare for war and no time for training crews. No notice like the 1971 war would be given, he said adding all officers must keep their 'power dry. Always hit first and hit hard' was his message to the gathering. Papers on the latest trends in missile technology with special emphasis on land attack cruise missiles, maximising existing air defence assets for fleet air defence with and out without carrier, Indian Navy's cooperative engagement capability and asymmetric warfare and its impact on weapon induction were presented at the symposium, organised in connection with silver jubilee celebrations of INS Dronacharya.

Bureau Report