US military supplies to the region and india pakistan military balance.

After the Taliban Air Force, time to battle the Taliban Navy news
09 March 2009
For long, these funds have been allocated to Pakistan under the guise of helping it fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT).

Sometime in February this year, the Pakistan Navy was provided the clearance to acquire three types of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonobuoys - totaling 445 units - under the Foreign Military Sales programme. This piece of anti-submarine warfare equipment is of the same class as contracted for the US Navy.

Indeed, the contract signed with suppliers is a joint contract for the US and the Pakistan Navy.

The sale was cleared, presumably, even as the Obama administration was instructing General Electric not to operationalise two new LM 2500 gas turbines it has contracted to supply the Indian Navy for its state-of-the-art, indigenously designed, Project 17 stealth frigates.

The first of three frigates, INS Shivalik, is ready to commence sea trials but the programme will now have to go on hold – at least for a few months –with the Obama administration reviewing its military relations with a number of countries, including India.

Here is the complete article by domain-b

The article goes on to analyse why it is that USA is doing what it is doing.

USA is equipping Pakistani military forces for free, the purpose is to restore some confidence into them and keep them engaged in the war USA and its allies are fighting in the region.

The equipment is for free due to the well known fact that Pakistan can not afford to support its military forces any more.

We have to remember that for USA to keep its pride in Afghanistan, feeding biscuits to Pakistan is necessary, just like in the good old "soviet invasion of Afghanistan" days (i think this is a stupid approach, however that is what is happening).

The article focuses too much on the equipment side, these equipments are a part of the equation, if we ordered them, USA will not decline handing them over to us.

The Pakistani Navy is not capable of providing the basic number of ships and aircrafts required to even make their presence felt in any regional conflict with us, from the shipbuilding and acquisition plan for the next decade or two, they will not achieve this capability any time soon, while we will keep on adding to the numbers and types.

I bet Pakistan is busy lobbying in USA to get more military material and we are busy lobbying against it.

The GE LM 2500 turbine that the author is angry about is hold up due to differences in the current administrations view of including these components into foreign military sales (requiring deeper level of authorisation), its not a ploy to slow down Indian naval build-up.

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PLA-N gets it on. (again)

Pentagon: Chinese Ships Harassed Unarmed Navy Craft in International

On March 4, a Chinese Bureau of Fisheries Patrol vessel used a high-intensity spotlight to illuminate the entire length of the ocean surveillance ship USNS Victorious several times, including its bridge crew. USNS Victorious was conducting lawful military operations in the Yellow Sea, about 125 nautical miles from China's coast. The Chinese ship then crossed Victorious' bow at a range of about 1400 yards in darkness without notice or warning. The following day, a Chinese Y-12 maritime surveillance aircraft conducted 12 fly-bys of Victorious at an altitude of about 400 feet and a range of 500 yards.

On March 5, without notice or warning, a Chinese frigate approached USNS Impeccable and proceeded to cross its bow at a range of approximately 100 yards. This was followed less than two hours later by a Chinese Y-12 aircraft conducting 11 fly-bys of Impeccable at an altitude of 600 feet and a range from 100-300 feet. The frigate then crossed Impeccable's bow yet again, this time at a range of approximately 400-500 yards without rendering courtesy or notice of her intentions.

On March 7, a PRC intelligence collection ship (AGI) challenged USNS Impeccable over bridge-to-bridge radio, calling her operations illegal and directing Impeccable to leave the area or "suffer the consequences."

The Chinese ships involved in the March 8 incident included a Chinese Navy intelligence collection ship (AGI), a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel, and two small Chinese-flagged trawlers.

U.S. Navy ships and aircraft routinely operate in international waters around the world, and this area is one such location where we operate regularly. Chinese ships and aircraft routinely steam or fly near U.S. Navy ships in this area, however these actions were considerably more aggressive and unprofessional than we have seen, and greatly increase the risk of collision or miscalculation.

Coastal states do not have a right under international law to regulate foreign military activities in the EEZ. The unprofessional maneuvers by Chinese vessels violated the requirement under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean. We expect Chinese ships to act responsibly and refrain from provocative activities that could lead to miscalculation or a collision at sea, endangering vessels and the lives of U.S. and Chinese mariners.

On March 8, 2009, five Chinese vessels shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in dangerously close proximity to USNS Impeccable, in an apparent coordinated effort to harass the U.S. ocean surveillance ship while it was conducting routine operations in international waters.

The Chinese vessels surrounded USNS Impeccable, two of them closing to within 50 feet, waving Chinese flags and telling Impeccable to leave the area. Because the vessels' intentions were not known, Impeccable sprayed its fire hoses at one of the vessels in order to protect itself. The Chinese crewmembers disrobed to their underwear and continued closing to within 25 feet.

click here for full report.

Ok when PLA-N was conveying its message the nice way USN did not listen and now they are crying tough play.

what happened to the cold poker faced USN of the 70s and 80s, giving back what they were served.

On the PLA-N side of things, sophisticated spy ship (of a nation who's generals call for more stealth planes to deal with China) are stationed around their territory(who knows collecting data on what type of sub surface activity that PLA-N got angry about), PLA-N does everything it can to warn the Amerikhans, they persist (on account of EEZ and what not), as a result PLA-N gets tough.

PLA-N did behave like a rude bully, collecting intelligence in international waters is fair game for all naval forces, the PLA-N does it happily. It should be clear to USN, if it is going to operate such ships around that area, they better be ready to enforce their presence.

T-AGOS 23 Impeccable
Swath-L (Large) Ocean Surveillance Ship

The mission of the T-AGOS 23 Class ships is to collect, process, and transmit acoustic data in support of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) mission requirements. The ship will be operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) utilizing both civilian and naval personnel to carry out its mission. In short, this vessel is used by the military to track submarines, and is the quietest vessel the government operates, outside of submarines themselves. The unique hull form is one of the most impressive features of this massive 281-foot vessel.

Surveillance ships serve as a stable platform to gather underwater acoustical data. IMPECCABLE was specifically designed to deploy two underwater listening devices called surveillance towed-array sensor system (SURTASS) used to augment the Navy's antisubmarine warfare capability. The SURTASS mission is to gather ocean acoustical data and, through electronic equipment onboard, process and provide rapid transmission of antisubmarine warfare information via satellite to shore stations for evaluation and analysis.

for more information about the ship click here

Scanning for the Ns, eh.

“The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates”

Then

Year	Location		Event
1400-1300 BC	Mediterranean		Lukka sea raiders attack shipping from the coast of Asia Minor
1300-1200BC	Mediterranean		Lukka sea raiders ally with Hittites
1220-1186BC	Eastern Mediterranean		Area controlled by the 'Sea Peoples'
1000-900BC	Mediterranean		Minoans overrun by Dorian Greeks using Cretan cities as pirate bases
700-600BC	Mediterranean		Phoenician and Greek merchants attacked by pirates
500-400BC	Mediterranean		Athenian navy attacks Greek pirate islands Kithnos, Mikonos and the Sporades
200-100BC	Mediterranean		Carthaginian war distracts Rome, pirate communities grow
168BC	Mediterranean		Rome annexes Illyria to curb piracy
67BC	Mediterranean		Anti-pirate campaign by Roman general Pompey the Great eliminates Cilician sea raiders

click here for the complete timeline

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Now
Piracy attacks drop as nations step up patrols

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

Two months into an international anti-piracy campaign off the Somalia coast, the number of attacks against cargo ships is down sharply, senior military and diplomatic officials said Thursday.

Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, told the House Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon is looking at the issue of internal strikes and acknowledged that, "ultimately, the solution to the problem of piracy is ashore — in Somalia."

Gortney, however, said the key will be to watch the progress over the next year, to see if the increased patrols, along with new agreements allowing suspected pirates to be prosecuted, will keep the level of attacks low.

On Thursday, the U.S. transferred seven pirates over to Kenyan authorities, who signed an agreement in January with the U.S. and Britain to try piracy suspects. Tanzania has expressed interest in forging a similar agreement, according to Stephen Mull, acting undersecretary of state for international security.

"There will be no lasting solution to the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden until Somalia's failed state is addressed," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo. "I fear that the situation on the ground in Somalia will be repeated in other failed states and in states with vast areas of ungoverned territory within their borders."

As many as 17 nations are participating in the increased patrols, and another eight or so are expected to join in the coming months. Gortney noted that officials are working to share information with all of the other navy ships, but some communication is a bit unorthodox.

click here for the complete news report

Pirates are not a new problem and the solutions that we will pursue will not be new either, just like terrorism.

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A bank wanted to safeguard their money vans, they had a lot of trouble with people robbing the vans while they went to deliver money to the ATMs, the irritating part was that the double barrel rifles of the one or two guards who safeguarded the van proved too big for the situation, the robbers were running away with the money in the time it took the guards to swing these huge guns around, or the robbers had their guns pointed at the heads of the guys carrying the money.

A security consultant and a transportation consultant were hired, they came out with some plans, one of them was implemented, the plan was solid, involved 5 guards in every van with shorter pump action shotguns that could load multiple rounds, and training for the guards to walk in a manner that made a attempt to rob the team very difficult nothing happened for a while, till the bank got the bills in their hand and then the same old situation returned.

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If the international community is hoping/waiting for the situation in Somalia to solve itself, well better start building ships exclusively for deployment into that region to ensure a safe route, otherwise most nations will have problem in providing the numbers when the original purpose for building the ships presents itself (i hopped around the net, fighting pirates does not seem to be one).

INS Tabar was recalled after the Mumbai tragedy and rightly so, it could have been tasked with a much greater role in the events that could have followed, which would have actually required the multi million dollar weapons, sensors, hardware and software.

So what can we do, UN tried its hand at peacekeeping in Somalia, i do not see any results, USA and its band of allies tried to influence the events, they do not seem to be doing a good job at it.

If no one is ready to send peace enforcers to Somalia we should start building a international navy to safeguard the seas, they are the only medium through which the unglamorous, every-day necessities that are so important can be transported.

It is the duty of every nation with a Navy to ensure safe passage in their territory, and the duty of the world to ensure that they make dangerous routes safe, especially in this age and time when we depend on these routes for our economic stability.

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On account of Insomnia and nothing to do:

Seventeen nations on a worthless conquest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

eight more are coming, what bout em rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.

Aurrr boat was sunk by a ship of thousand tons
A few guns and a rain of lead

naaaah not really good at this.

Non intrusive power projection.

As the LTTE retreats deeper into the jungles, hoping that a ceasefire would save them to fight another day or through other means, many of our fellow citizens want the government to do something about the situation, from forcing a ceasefire to the very few demanding to wipe out the LTTE.

Both options would be very difficult to implement given that the big bad dragon and its ever obedient green monster have their eyes set on the tear-drop island they have already made deep inroads into the island, the irony is that the LTTE is our bastard child.

A very interesting observation is that we have been involved in the conflict for a long time, even after the Military forces came back from the Island, Indian Navy has been at work cutting off the supply routes of LTTE and denying them opportunity to indulge in gun running and smuggling narcotics.

A direct involvement by our nation at this stage could have been counter productive, the recent activity in Tamil Nadu is a example of that. Providing the Sri Lankan military forces with what ever equipment we could and controlling the sea was&is a very effective way of helping to contain the LTTE, the naval efforts will go unnoticed in the media, as when operating that far away from land the only way media can get its hand on pictures and information of operations is if the Navy provides it to them.

A strong LTTE is about as useful for us as Mr. Bhindarnwale in golden temple, the reason behind saying that is that we know they will never become a peaceful organisation, and if we take action against them we will only help them to hurt us where it matters.

We should help push LTTE into a corner which should force them to behave in the desired manner, and the only safe way of doing this is by ensuring that they have a hard time at sea.

One of the difficulties the Navy faces and will continue to face in such operations is that the Navy is spread around several operations and duties in the region with too few ships for control, this is exactly the problem the Navy is trying to sort with its vision for 2022, they require more help and understanding from the governments that will be in power around the next decade (2010-2025)

Vision 2022: sub surface

Submarines will form a vital part of our nations defensive and offensive capability, long ranged land attack cruise missile equipped nuclear submarines offer the safest possible method to strike targets, the submarines also form the most survivable part of the nuclear deterrence and they are invaluable intelligence collection assets.

Recently Indian navy has sought smaller submarines that can be attached to the larger submarines in order to help deliver special forces where ever it is they need to go, these submarines offer a very lethal capability in the coming decades as undersea UAV versions offering reconnaissance and attack capability without putting our own men and expensive equipment in harms way.

Submarines in the region will not be restricted to area denial roles in the coming decade, they will be able to project power on sea and land far away from the shores of the nation they serve when China and Pakistan acquire the capability to launch land attack cruise missiles from submarines we will have to give a tremendous boost to our surveillance capabilities on the oceans surface, under it and above it.

Looking at the Indian Navy it is obvious that the submarine branch has been ignored, and as a result the Navy might fall short of the projected 25 number in service by 2022 in absence of some creative and decisive decisions.

Submarines are the most mysterious aspect of a navy, and no one is ever willing to talk about their capability to friends or foes, which would be a good reason to start building them ourselves.

Another good reason to build indigenously would be that by 2022 we will have four types of front line submarines serving with the Indian navy, which will cause a lot of problems in managing the logistics and maintenance thankfully this is something that Indian Navy could be given a doctorate in, there is only one way to avoid this building local and building original.

Selection of 6-12 modified submarines from France ( a evolution of the Scorpene series) for the Project-75I will ensure that a lot of these problems are resolved, it seems to me that the Indian Navy is seriously looking at launching a major indigenous SSK building program when the Project-75I closes up and will utilize the technology transfer and the experience of building these two types for that.

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6 Scorpene Class Submarines from Project 75:

Most of the information related to this project is available, these are the submarines that should have started commissioning into the navy some how this was delayed, which will cause delays in the future programs.

6 Submarines from the Project 75I:

These submarines will feature AIP systems and VLS for cruise missiles, from the released images it seems that the submarines will have a 10 cell VLS the missile would in all probability be from BrahMos Corporation.

Hopefully the numbers of these submarines will be increased to meet the 2022 target.

ATV project:

Not much reliable information about this project is available in the media.
According to some articles the first technology demonstrator submarine will feature a 4 cell VLS capable of storing up to twelve 700km ranged ballistic missiles and will eventually carry up to four 5000km ballistic missiles from the Agni project.

The number of the VLS cells could be increased with subsequent submarines in order to have a true nuclear deterrent in the form of a nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), it has been mentioned several times that a total of five SSBNs are to be developed in this project, a 12-16 cell VLS system will give a total of 60-80 nuclear missiles.

If the current submarine completes trials and the first modified SSBN completes construction by 2013 we should have the required number of submarines by 2022.

Once the SSBN production line is open the project will in all probability shift its focus towards the development of a SSN and introducing improvements into the SSBN, the status of SSN’s in service by 2022 is hard to predict with the available information. Any number would contribute to the projected plans for 25 submarines.

Kilo Class Submarines:

2 Kilo Class Submarines acquired in 1997 and 2000 will remain in service, serving as training assets in all probability as they will be outdated by the more recent induction in our Navy and other regional naval forces.

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Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)

When the keel of the Indigenous Aircraft Project (Project 71) will be laid at 28th February Indian Navy will be on its way provide the two fleets with a aircraft carrier group

The aircraft carrier will have a air component consisting of MiG-29K, ASW helicopters, AEW Helicopter, and possibly Tejas-Naval.

MiG-29K will be tasked with the task of providing air defence, anti ship role and light attack role


ASW Helicopters will be necessary in the IOR where a submarine buildup is underway and only likely to increase by 2022, a future ASW helicopter should be looked at as the aircraft carriers come into service (similar to merlin ASW class helicopter).


AEW helicopters will be hard pressed to provide a significant capability to counter the fast flying threats, they will be able to give early warning of low flying anti ship missiles which is an important capability due to the proliferation of anti ship missiles in our region , they will also add to the overall awareness about whats floating around the carrier group.



HAL Tejas(Naval) is a mystery to me, with MiG-29K providing a better capability in performing the same roles why should the Navy be interested in them, the answer could possibly be found in the decline of the Sea Harriers in the Indian Navy. The Navy had to struggle with declining numbers, non availability of spare parts, and sanctions due to the Nuclear tests. Tejas-N will be produced in India, making it sanction proof (at least most of it), and upgrades would not require lengthy negotiations.

Post 2022 Indian Navy will be looking to induct an advanced fighter, possibly a FGFA derivative and it will take time to produce a more capable Mark-II version of the Tejas LCA, hence the Tejas LCA will not be able to serve in numbers with the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy would not have selected the MiG-29K had Tejas-N been available for induction.

The IAC has been designed with Indian Navy involved in each step of the process, hence the design of the ship will be perfectly to its requirements.

These will be the flag ships of the two fleets which control a huge area, which is one of worlds most important commercial sea traffic route(The suez to the malacca) , and any regional navy will be hard pressed to provide similar capability.

Below is a map i found on google images describing what the region looks like, it is weird that this image is on tamilnation.org.

Vision 2022:Surface Ships

The Indian Navy is going through tremendous change, the Vision for it around 2022 is quite interesting.

Here is what i have read about the major surface vessels which will be serving with the Indian Navy around 2022.

Aircraft Carriers:

INS Vikramadiya (ex-Admiral Gorskhov):

This ship was meant to fill a important role in the Indian Navy: See off the current INS Viraat (ex-Hermes, RN) into retirement, To provide a aviation element till IAC were commissioned, To provide a platform for the Navy to train its men while the three Aircraft carriers came into service.

This was based on the ability of the ship to cost low and refit with out taking too long, the ships was to retire around 2022-2025 as the third IAC came into service now it seems it is very expensive and delayed beyond 2012-2015.

This will put strain on the navy as they have to induct 3 aircraft carriers(first in 2012-2015, second in 2017-2020, and the third in 2022-2025) and needs trained men (for the ship & the planes), training resources on light to medium carrier as they are commissioned will be limited.

However at current costs the ship is better off in Russia then India for the IN and the government.

3 Indigenous Aircraft Carriers:

These is a new design one that involved the Indian Navy at every step, with international design and consultancy firms which have experience of similar projects this will translate in a very effective design for its class (short take-off but arrested recovery, conventional power/gas turbines, 37,500-40,000 tons).

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Guided Missile Destroyers:

3 Kolkata class destroyers from Project 15A:

Multi role ships with modern active phased array radars (hardware), good computing power(hardware) and a total combat management system (software).

With decent anti-air and anti-missile capability in the form of Barak (possibly 16), Barak-NG (32 missiles in 4 cells with 8 VLS each) and 4 AK-630 CIWS
A-190 gun and 16 BrahMos missile system on 2 VLS occupying a large space.

The delay in the construction of these ships has been due to changes in design and to accommodate new sensors and weapons, as is evident from the following pictures i found on google search, both from an excellent blog: http://trishulgroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/project-15a-ddg-detailed.html

Old Kolkata Class Design

New Kolkata Class Design

These ships might not represent capabilities of a potent anti air warfare destroyer, however when we take into consideration for a moment that the Indian navy faces no great aviation threat in the region things become clear. This will not be the case in the coming decade.

4 Destroyers from Project 15B:

An evolution of the Project 15B destroyers, in my view the design of these ships will show a tilt towards anti air warfare hence the number of BrahMos Missiles might go down to four or they might all together disappear, most hardware/sensors will be common to the 15A with improved software.

3 Delhi Class destroyers:

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Guided Missile Frigates

7 Frigates from Project 17A:

These ships will be designed with a focus on low observability (LO), in terms of radar cross section reduction, Infra red emission reduction and noise reduction, although this has been done on previous designs, this project will take it to the next step, i expect the sensor suite to be around the joint venture (Barak NG) with Israel and the major hardware previously purchased for other ships (MF-STAR EL/M-2248).

These ships will cost a lot as the application of different LO technologies will not be a low cost affair.

The design will depend upon which international shipyard is selected by the Indian Navy, and the technology transfer for the construction of most ships from this class will cost a lot.

3 Shivalik Class Frigates from Project 17.

Everything about these ships is clear now, hopefully the commissioning will start soon, LO evolution from the Talvar class and sharing many systems/equipment/weapons.

The design and the weapons fit of these ships are very strange, they look like a mixture of two separate generations, the only reason could be the delays the project faced.

3 Modified Talvar Class Frigates:

These will have Brahmos instead of the club missile system in the Talvar class frigates in service.

3 Talvar Class Frigates.

3 Brahmaputra Class Frigates.

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Corvettes:

12 Project 28 ASW Corvettes:

Very compact and nice design, they will keep on evolving from the first ship to the last ship, the focus on noise reduction and LO is evident,
I think the navy will include a basic anti air/missile capability by adding Barak missile system.
The current design does not show any room for some klub anti ship/anti submarine missile system.

4 Kora Class Corvettes from Project 25A.

Veer class corvettes on the last leg of their service.

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Amphibious Assault Ships:

3-4 Large amphibious assault ships:
This has been in the news for some time now, the transfer of ex-USS Trenton into Indian Navy as the INS Jalashawa, request for the transfer of ex-USS Nashville suggests that the Navy will be looking at this capability in a very serious manner. The Joint Doctrine on Amphibious Warfare will form and validate an amphibious assault doctrine.

Some reports stated that Mistral Class amphibious assault ships/command & control ships are being considered, they would be ideal in lead role of a separate amph. strike group.

Recent interview of Vice Admiral Dilip Deshpande suggested 3-4 LPDs, which would come into service with the Navy ready for them through investment into the decomm. USN ships.

Landing Ships (Shardul Class):
Currently 3 of these ships are commissioned/ing into the Navy.

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Those were the major surface ships, other ships will include:
Large off-shore patrol vessels and small fast patrol vessels these will receive a lot of resources because of the tragedy in Mumbai.
Tankers/supply ships for the fleets.
Anti Mine warfare ships.
Rescue vessels, tugs, research vessels, hospital ships, torp recovery ships, training ships.

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This projected naval buildup is impressive, and its based on the current and predicted rise in economic wealth (the size of the economy).

This force in itself does not possess a impressive offensive capability to project power on land this force however provides IN with impressive advantage in the region(in terms of surface ships), IN will be able to meet any conventional sea based chalange or threat if the situation presents itself.

Three ACs provide the navy with two aircraft carrier groups, which will have around 16-20 fighters (MiG-29K/KUB) and 10 helicopters with each of the aircraft carrier groups. MiG-29K provides air defence, light land attack capability, and anti ship role for around 600-800 km radius, these are the roles it was supposed to fulfil. It is certainly way more impressive than the old harriers on INS Viraat.

The fleets will have LACM version of the BrahMos which is effective up to 300km, not a particularly impressive range for sea based LACM considering that 300 kms away from land will expose it to shore based air power and anti ship missile battries.

For a aircraft carrier battle group the capability of a 300km range anti ship cruise missile does not seem very useful (BrahMos AShM version), if the surface ships of the opposing force are able to approach with-in 300km of the group then some one is not doing his/her job and if no ship is able to come that close to the group then what is the need of the BrahMos anti ship missile on so many ships in the group?

The amphibious attack capability is more impressive with the planned LPD's and LS's, considering the rest of the Naval capability, this provides a impressive power projection capability, capability to land an offensive force of men and equipment on the shore complete with the support of airplanes and helicopters from the aircraft carriers and the LPDs.

The Third Fleet

The vision 2022 concentrates on building up our naval capability in the IOR, the current plans should be adequate for the task.

If everything goes right this will provide us with the chance to create a third fleet, to safeguard our interests far away from regional waters.

A recent post by a defence journalist in his blog (livefist) stated

The keel of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, to be the second warship christened INS Vikrant, will be laid on February 28 at Kochi. But it is now clear that while Cochin Shipyards will build three aircraft carriers in the current 37,500-ton category (the second and third are to be christened INS Viraat and INS Vishaal apparently), design work has already begun in earnest to develop and build two more aircraft carriers with not only much larger displacements, but possibly nuclear propulsion as well.

A third fleet could be structured to include a aircraft carrier group and a amphibious assault group, with other elements joining in if required.

The aircraft carrier and the amphibious ship are the main power projection tools, with the rest of the constituent elements built around them.

For the development of this capability we will need assistance from nations that have similar capabilities (USA, Europe, Russia), in order to keep the costs and delays to the minimum possible levels, this help will not be too difficult to come, as is evident with the current IAC project and with many other projects that are under-way.

We have to use this power to shape the events when we can and where we can to our advantage.
If our friends face a threat/challenge in the region we have to possess the capability to intervene decisively, which will give us the ability to solve matters diplomatically when needed.

As we develop into a economically prosperous energy and resource hungry nation, we will need to form partnerships with distant nations, military capability will be a important part of these partnerships. In a world that is violent and unstable, diplomacy alone will only get us limited results.

If the economic growth falters we will be restricted to our region and unable to influence the events happening away from our borders, instead these events will shape our policy, and the economy will shrink without resources and markets.

Sea has always been important and will be so in the coming years, all the recent activity is a clear indication of this.

This world is a huge place and we are a small part of it, we have paid the price of limiting ourselves to the subcontinent before, a naval force which is in proportion with our interests has to become a permanent part of our nation.