President embarks warship, reviews naval fleet

Mumbai: India’s first lady Supreme Commander of Armed Forces President Pratibha Patil today created history by sailing a warship in Mumbai to review an impressive naval steampast. The 77-year-old Patil, who reviewed a naval fleet of 81 ships and 44 aircraft, said the Navy’s dominance in the region is set to grow with the induction of an aircraft carrier, new submarines and destroyers.[caption id=“attachment_161031” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“President Pratibha Patil. Image courtesy PIB”]  [/caption] “The navy today is poised to achieve new milestones with the imminent induction of aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, the Kolkata class stealth destroyers, the follow-on frigates of the Talwar class, the indigenous ASW corvettes and an impressive number of submarines and aircraft. “Today, the Indian Navy is one of the most capable in the region and with its well thought out modernisation plans, is destined to grow even further,” Patil said while addressing naval officers and personnel onboard INS Subhadra, a naval off shore patrol vessel. Patil, who was secured by the elite marine commandos (Marcos) and snipers on the ship, wore a navy cap as she took salute from different class of ships and aircrafts of the navy during the over two-hour Presidential Fleet Review ceremony. Patil is the first woman President to have flown in a Sukhoi fighter aircraft, ride in a Arjun battle tank and now sail on a warship. President APJ Abdul Kalam during his stint in Rashtrapati Bhavan had also undertaken similar ventures. A fleet review is conducted once in the tenure of a President to showcase to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the country, the naval prowess and its strike capabilities. “Safeguarding of our maritime borders is a major requirement for the social and economic well being of our country. The oil exploration activities off our coasts and at sea are of significant economic importance.Therefore, the protection of our coast our ‘sea lines of communications’ and the offshore development areas is a major pre-requisite of our nation’s development.These are major roles for the Indian Navy,” Patil said in her address. The president was accompanied by Defence Minister AK Antony, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju, the Maharashtra governor, the three service chiefs and four cabinet ministers on-board the warship. The review began at 0900 hours with a 150-men Guard of Honour and customary 21-gun salute accorded to Patil. “Around 50 to 60 percent of the naval ships and 60 to 70 percent of the all the major warships in the Indian Navy participated in today’s fleet review. The warships had arrived from all the naval commands including the Andaman and Nicobar-based tri-service command,” Satish said. The Andaman and Nicobar command was represented by its commander-in-chief Lieutenant General Naresh Marwah and his flag ship INS Kesari. Replying to a query on construction of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), the spokesperson said, “IAC is scheduled to be launched in few months, probably by early next year. Its induction may take place in next few years, as planned.” PTI