In a strategic move to enhance maritime security, the Indian Navy has deployed six warships for anti-piracy and anti-drone operations, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Indian Navy, informed. He stated that this deployment is part of a broader initiative including additional warships to deal with the challenge in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Speaking to news agency ANI, the Navy chief conveyed, “Indian Navy has deployed six warships in the anti-piracy and anti-drone operations. The number is going to go up further. A proposal has been submitted to the government in this regard and clearance is expected shortly”.
Highlighting the Navy’s preparedness, he emphasised the existing anti-drone capabilities, stating, “Some warships are already equipped with it, and we are working on induction of these capabilities in others.” The anti-drone measures include GPS Jammers, surface-to-air missile systems, and laser devices.
He also spoke about the successful operation to rescue 15 Indians from the hijacked vessel MV Lili Norfolk in the Arabian Sea. “We take the challenge to bring back our countrymen from wherever they are. It was not an Indian-flagged ship, but the crew were Indian, and it is our national policy to help them whenever they are distressed. We did the same in Sudan and Ukraine,” he told ANI.
Addressing the issue of piracy, Admiral R Hari Kumar asserted, “Directions have been given to the Naval officers to take action to prevent piracy at any cost. We want to keep the Indian Ocean region safe and secure.”
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Navy Chief On Merchant Vessel MV Lila Norfolk Hijacking, Anti-Piracy Act
Providing insights into the sanitisation operation conducted by Marine Commandos on the hijacked vessel, the Navy Chief said, “It seems that after seeing our aircraft and drones operating all over the ship hijacked by them, the Pirates ran away from the Lili Norfolk in the night of 4-5 January itself. The Marine Commandos had to sanitize the vessel for any traps or other issues.”
The Navy chief credited the Union government for enacting the anti-piracy act, highlighting its significance on a global scale. “Our national leadership has passed the anti-piracy act, making it clear that there is no room for piracy in our region. This is our responsibility as the Indian Navy to ensure that. It is our duty to find them and take action against them. We have been enabled by the anti-piracy act; very few countries have an act like this,” he affirmed, as quoted by ANI.
The recent incident involved the hijacking of the Merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk by pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia. The vessel was en route from Port Du Aco in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain. In response to a distress call, a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) was launched and INS Chennai, deployed for maritime security operations, was diverted to assist the vessel.
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