Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi emphasized that the challenges of the future can only be addressed through the partnerships forged today, adding that the capacity to gather, analyse, and share information in real time will be pivotal in shaping both deterrence and defence.
The CNS was speaking at the commissioning ceremony of INS Aravali, Indian Navy’s latest Naval Base, at Gurugram, on Friday. The CNS was presented with a 50-men Guard of Honour. Captain Sachin Kumar Singh, the first Commanding Officer of the unit, recited the invocation in Sanskrit followed by reading of the commissioning warrant
“In the increasingly complex and challenging maritime environment, where threats can emerge swiftly and often invisibly, the ability to collect, analyse, and share information in real time will define both deterrence and defence,” said the Naval Chief.
Stating that as the country moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, Tripathi said that our maritime interests are set to increase manifold – stretching across trade, energy and connectivity. “To safeguard these growing interests, our approach to maritime information must be guided by the trinity of invention, innovation, and integration,” he said.
“With an increase in the scale and sophistication of facilities here, it is only fitting that they receive a strong and resilient administrative-cum-logistic support. And, the commissioning of the base depot ship, INS Aravali, provides precisely that foundation,” he added further.
Dubbing INS Aravali as a hub of technology, the CNS said that it will provide the foundation for a robust administrative and logistical support, commensurate with the increasing scale and sophistication of facilities, thereby ensuring seamless operations.
INS Aravali, deriving its name from the unwavering Aravali range, shall support various information and communication centres of the Indian Navy which are key to India’s and Indian Navy’s command, control and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) framework.
Guided by the motto ‘सामुद्रिकसुरक्षायाः सहयोगं’ or ‘Maritime Security through Collaboration’, the Naval Base exemplifies supportive and collaborative ethos, working seamlessly with naval units, MDA centres and allied stakeholders.
The Crest of the base comprises central mountain imagery perfectly symbolising the unwavering and strong Aravali Range, and the rising sun representing eternal vigilance, resilience and energy, in addition to the dawn of niche technological capabilities in the field of Communications and MDA.