New Delhi (NVI): Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh today said that the Navy is fully prepared to tackle any challenge from China, besides the Covid-19 pandemic, while adding that a steady procurement of jets and naval utility helicopters is underway in the wake of current security situation.
The Navy chief was addressing a press conference here on the eve of Navy Day.
With regard to the prevailing security situation along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, the Navy chief said that a P-81 aircraft and Heron drones have been deployed in the region.
The Navy Chief assured that a Standard Operating Procedure is there, in case of any infringement from the Chinese side in the Indian Ocean. Pertinent to mention here, that despite several rounds of military and diplomatic level talks between India and China, both sides have yet not arrived any concrete decision.
Admiral Singh further added that the Navy is operating in close coordination with the Army and the Air Force. On the proposed maritime theatre command, the Navy chief said that work is in progress.
Apart from that, Admiral Singh said that the induction of a third aircraft in the Navy will take place soon.
It is already eight months since mobilisation of troops began in the Eastern Ladakh sector, with China launching military aggression and prompting India to make the mirror deployment of forces to prevent any unilateral change in the LAC.
According to estimates, there are around 50,000 troops deployed on both sides of the LAC, along with assets like fighter planes and artillery guns.
There have been eight rounds of talks between India and China at the level of military commanders, besides meetings and discussions at the levels of Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister and National Security Adviser, to resolve the matter but it has not yielded any results so far.
-ARK
