From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 08:34 PM IST

Concerned over the delay in the arrival of the Russian-built aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, the Indian Navy has decided to give a new lease of life and makeover to its lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

'She will undergo a normal refit and her machinery would be strengthened. She would last till the time Admiral Gorshkov arrives,' Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, told reporters here.

He said the Indian Navy expects the Russian carrier to arrive by 2009 or early 2010.

'The delay will not hamper the strategic planning of the Indian Navy, but we would have been happy had she touched the Indian shores in time.'

Spelling out the modernisation plans of the Indian Navy, Bedi said that as many as 33 ships and submarines are under various stages of construction. Of these, 27 are ships and six are submarines of the Scorpene-class, being built at the Mazagaon Docks Ltd, in collaboration with France.

The ships include three ships of Shivalik-class and three of Kolkata-class. The navy will also order three Talwar-class ships from the Russians.

Besides the Mazagaon Docks Ltd, the ships are being built at Goa Shipyard Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilders Ltd in Kolkata and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, where an indigenous aircraft carrier is being built.

At the same time, the Indian Navy is looking at medium range helicopters and is scouting the international market for long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

Bedi said the amphibious warfare capability of the west coast was also being enhanced.

'For any navy it is important to impact the land battle,' he said and pointed out that a ship with amphibious capability will join the Western Naval Command (WNC) 'in the times to come'.

The Vice Admiral said that while INS Jalashva (earlier USS Trenton) has joined the eastern fleet, INS Shardul has been commissioned and home ported in Karwar.

Asked whether the navy has plans to acquire Sea Harriers, he said that the production line of Harrier in Britain has closed down and the Royal Navy currently was using GR-7, the ground attack version of the Harriers.

'They are not making Sea Harriers any more. Moreover, UK is part of the NATO-alliance,' he said and pointed out that of the 13 Sea Harriers that the Indian Navy has, 10 are undergoing limited upgrades.

'When Admiral Gorshkov and the indigenous carrier joins, Harriers would be replaced by MiG-29K and maritime variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).'

To a question about naval version of Dhruva, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), he said: 'Currently, we have eight of them. There are some teething problems, which were are trying to resolve with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (NAL). It does not meet the requirements of the Indian Navy.'

To enhance the safety and surveillance of the navy, Bedi said that a vessel with Air Traffic Management System has been commissioned.

'The maritime domain awareness will be increased in the other coastal areas too. And in the era of net-centric operations, at a particular time we will be able to get a total picture of what is sailing around our waters,' he added.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)