Attempts to extend the lives of these obsolete submarines by another 10 years with expensive refits costing Rs 5,000 crore is not going to meet the challenges posed by new capabilities being introduced by the Chinese and Pakistani Navies. This is indeed a laudable move and shows how the Indian leadership is aware of the linkage of Indian economic growth to the oceans of the world. Dhowan that India is at present indigenously building 46 ships and submarines, I did notice that only three obsolete Kilo-class conventional submarines participated in the IFR.Over 99 warships (including 28 foreign warships from 24 nations) present at anchorage off Visakhapatnam, along with numerous VIPs and massive crowds, posed a huge security challenge given the number of terrorist attacks emanating from neighbouring countries. Hopefully, Mr Modi will commission INS Arihant soon. 

 China — which had missed IFR 2001 because Pakistan was not invited — sent two warships and a delegation, while Pakistan, though invited, did not attend. The Indian Navy was represented by over 70 warships, 34 aircraft and submarines. Having participated as Eastern Fleet commander in India’s first-ever IFR held at Mumbai on February 17, 2001, I was looking forward to attending the second IFR, which was held on February 6 at Visakhapatnam though I was unable to attend the same due to other commitments. 

Visakhapatnam, which was ravaged in 2015 by a super cyclone, received a much-needed facelift to welcome foreign visitors who included 21 Navy Chiefs, ambassadors, and military officers, in addition to the top Indian leadership, including the President, Prime Minister, defence minister, governors, chief ministers, etc. It was a grand affair with 54 nations participating and 24 nations sending their warships.This indicates the rather sorry state of our submarine fleet which has rapidly reduced to 13 conventional units of which 12 have reached or will shortly reach the end of their designed operational 25-year life.On October 10, 1953, India held its first PFR with President Rajendra Prasad reviewing the Indian fleet at Bombay.The Indian Navy, along with other security agencies, ensured that a layered seaward security system based on constant patrolling by ships, aircraft and submarines ensured safety against any sea-borne terror strike during IFR 2016.

So, while the Indian Navy has done the nation proud by conducting IFR 2016 and the government has taken the next logical step of announcing its plan of hosting a global maritime summit, a lot needs to be done. Seminars, a city parade and a "naval firepower demonstration” which showcases naval combat capabilities to the political leadership and public who watch it from the seafront also take place. In modern times nations have held fleet reviews, both at the national (called PFR, or Presidential Fleet Review) and international (called IFR, or International Fleet Review) levels, to showcase their maritime growth while at the same time improving goodwill and friendship with other nations. The shift in venue from New Delhi (Pragati Maidan) to Goa could be partly due to defence minister Manohar Parrikar being a Goan. 

However, it also indicates that New Delhi is finally overcoming its traditional "sea blindness” and India is taking its first step to becoming a sea power.Worse, all this comes at a time when the Chinese media had reported that a Chinese submarine was also on deployment in the Indian Ocean (during IFR).However, despite the spectacular IFR 2016 and the statement by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R.In 1415, King Henry V is reported to have inspected the English fleet before it sailed for war with France, thus beginning the tradition of fleet review by the head of state. Till now, India has had seven PFRs and two IFRs. This will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the aim of attracting $6 billion as foreign direct investment to boost India’s maritime infrastructure, which contributes directly to Indian economic growth as 90 per cent of trade and over 80 per cent of our oil imports are done via the seas.K.The six conventional Scorpene-class submarines currently under construction at Mazagaon Docks Ltd (Mumbai) are over six years behind schedule and will enter service between 2016 and 2022. 

It would have been a feather in our cap if Mr Modi could have commissioned our first indigeneous SSBN, Arihant, just before or during the IFR, thus enabling participation in the IFR by this vital asset which will form the third leg of our triad-based nuclear deterrence.For the record, China has over 50 conventional submarines, six SSNs and three SSBNs (ship submersible ballistic, nuclear), and one Chinese sub is always on deployment in the Indian Ocean, while Pakistan (which has five French Agosta-class conventional subs) has ordered eight modern Chinese Qing-class missile-firing conventional subs (four to be built in Karachi and four to be imported). This leaves a huge vacuum in our underwater combat capability, which needs to be urgently addressed by direct purchase of SSNs (submerged ship, nuclear) or tactical nuclear submarines before we are confronted by a "surprise at sea” like the disastrous 1962 Sino-India war. The Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft also participated along with merchant ships.

The writer retired as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam.Traditionally, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the President of India reviews the fleet once during his tenure in office. As the IFR concluded on February 8, India announced that it would host a 30-nation "Global Maritime Summit” in Mumbai from April 14-16