Time ripe for indigenous warships: Naval Chief

Mumbai, Sept 18 (PTI) Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma today said a serious relook at the inefficiencies of Navy is required and an indigenous warship building system needs to be conceptualised.

"Indian Navy is poised for growth and the time to conceptualise an indigenous warship building system has come.

Also, a serious relook at the inefficiencies of Navy is required," Verma said at the launch of warship INS Kochi, a Delhi-class destroyer, at the Mazgaon dock in south Mumbai.

Verma said, "Fluctuating funding in the past has compelled the Navy to resort to (warship) building in abroad, but now there is an urgent need to emulate worldwide trends in warship building (in the country)."

The 6,500-tonne INS Kochi, launched by Verma's wife Madulika, is the second warship in the 'Project 15-A' under which three guided-missile destroyers with stealth and multi-role features will be built. Link...