The outgoing Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, handed over the traditional naval telescope to his successor Admiral Arun Prakash on 31July 2004. Soon after taking over, Admiral Prakash announced his priority areas for strengthening the Indian Navy. Among these priorities, two issues need special attention. These are (a) network-centric or a â??wiredâ?? Navy and (b) nuclear-powered submarines.

Admiral Prakashâ??s thrust area is to make the Indian Navy a â??network centricâ?? force. His vision is to connect Indian naval ships, submarines, aircraft, and shore bases through a satellite based data link. If that is done, it will be possible to interlink long range missiles, radars and sensors on the warships through satellite, and to deliver a powerful blow within enemy territory. These requirements are contingent on a dedicated military satellite. It appears that the Indian Space Research Organisation has been tasked by the Indian military to launch a dedicated satellite for use by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and DRDO. It could also be used by other Indian surveillance agencies. The Admiral noted that the backbone of the Navyâ??s network-centric warfare will be a communications satellite, largely dedicated to the Indian Navy. Knowledgeable sources believe that the satellite will be up in space in less than two years, and should become operational soon thereafter.

Once the satellite and its transponders are operational, Indian naval ships, submarines and aircraft will be able to exchange and transfer real time data with each other. This connectivity will provide a digital tactical battle space view of the dispersed fleet formations, aircraft locations and even submarine deployments. Besides, shore based intelligence support will facilitate building a larger strategic picture. This should provide a quantum jump to the quality of tactical operations undertaken by the Indian Navy. The current model of the Indian Navy is platform-centric. The new satellite enabled and IT driven information architecture will result in a network-centric navy with end-to-end seamless shore-to-ship and vice-versa connectivity to ensure that every unit is connected to the other i.e. the smallest ship to larger command platforms at sea and ashore. The operational units will have access to tactical / non-tactical information on a dedicated navy web through a multilayered security system. A network-centric navy would result in synergy by integrating â??sensor and shooterâ?? for optimum exploitation of both these capabilities, growth in combat power, critical mass for technology evolution, and enhanced quality of tactical operations.

Admiral Prakash has also noted that the Indian Navy needs nuclear submarines, but he is conscious of the fact that a political decision is required which is best left to the government to decide on its acquisition. Interestingly, his predecessor, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, had also expressed similar views on nuclear submarines and maintained that India should have the strongest arm of its "nuclear weapon triad" at sea, with submarines capable of launching nuclear missiles. Singhâ??s primary argument had been that a country like India, with a declared policy of no first-use of nuclear weapons, must have a nuclear triad. He had however, refused to "either confirm or deny" the existence of nuclear weapons on Indian warships or whether India was planning to acquire Russian Akula class submarines.

In recent times, media reports have noted that India has entered into an agreement with Russia for the lease/purchase of two Akula (Bars)-class Type 971 nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs). The lease will cost some US$300 million. The Akula is perhaps the quietest of Russian submarines and its modern variant the Akula II is comparable to the US Los Angeles class boats in terms of stealth. Indian Navy will be the first to acquire such a vessel other than the Russian Navy. The Indian unit will be armed with the three-stage, 300 km-range Novator 3M-54E1 Klub-S (SS-N-27) cruise missile, for use against surface ships, submarines and shore targets. While the Indian Navy is busy building its own ATV, the Akula will provide valuable training for its officers and sailors.