New Delhi: Vice Admiral P Murugesan on Tuesday launched 3 Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) Kolkata. Speaking on the occasion, he added that another 48 of them are currently under construction in various shipyards across the country to boost the maritime capabilities of India. The projects which are currently in pipeline includes aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts.
Amidst reports that a Chinese submarine had crossed the Arabian Sea and entered Karachi port last month, the vice admiral said it was not a matter of big concern but they were monitoring all such activities.
"Docking of a submarine belonging to some other country in a third country itself is not a big concern but we do monitor them, whichever submarines operate in our region," Vice Admiral P Murugesan.
India also has submarine capabilities and our submarines also go on dock in foreign countries, he said.
"We monitor them and then we see what are the precautionary measures we should take," the naval officer said.
As far as naval cooperations are concerned, Murugesan said, "We are also having relations with numerous countries but we monitor in our neighbourhood who is interacting with which other navy. That is always briefed to the concerned authorities of the government and we do develop our navy to meet any challenges that might come out of such cooperation".
On naval build-up in India's neighbourhood, he said there is "no immediate concern". "Our Navy is quite strong enough to look after our maritime interests in our area of interest," he said adding that the navy is like an ambassador as they can go anywhere.
