New chief Admiral Tripathi says Navy should be operationally ready

New Delhi: The new Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, said on Tuesday that the Navy should remain operationally ready at all times. The 26th Chief of Naval Staff said that there are potential adversaries as there are emerging challenges in the maritime domain, PTI reported.

A communication and electronic warfare specialist, Admiral Tripathi assumed charge of the force after the retirement of incumbent R Hari Kumar, who had a career of four decades.

Admiral Tripathi, an alumnus of the Sainik School Rewa, was serving as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He took charge of the Navy when some of the world's strategic waterways, including the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, were under security challenges. There are Houthi militants targeting merchant ships in these regions.

"Over the years, our Navy has evolved into a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, and future-proof force, for which I want to thank all the esteemed former Chiefs of the Navy," he told reporters.

"The existing and emerging challenges in the maritime domain mandate the Indian Navy to remain operationally ready to deter potential adversities at sea in peace and to win the war at sea when asked to do so," he said. "That will remain my singular focus and endeavour," the new Navy Chief said.

Also, there is a growing concern in India's security establishment over China's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean region.

"I will also strengthen the ongoing efforts of the Indian Navy towards 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance), towards new technologies and becoming an important pillar of the nation's development towards our collective quest for 'Viksit Bharat'," he said.

He said that he would focus on issues relating to the force's human resources.

"My priority will be to upskill our human resource, that is, the men and women of our Navy, and provide them with the best armament, training, professional environment and administrative support," Admiral Tripathi said.