In a notable development for the Indian Navy, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has announced an operational demonstration (Op Demo) scheduled to take place at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam on January 4, 2025. This supplementary event will replace the traditional Navy Day operational demonstration, which is typically held on December 4 each year. Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the ENC, shared the details during a media briefing ahead of the upcoming Navy Day celebrations.
In line with the Union Government’s initiative to host Navy Day celebrations in different cities and historical locations, the Navy Day 2024 festivities will be held at Puri Beach in Odisha, where President Droupadi Murmu is expected to attend as the chief guest. The operational demonstration aims to highlight the capabilities and versatility of the Indian Navy, showcasing a range of naval ships, submarines, aircraft, and Special Forces.
Although the people of Visakhapatnam will miss the annual December event, they can look forward to the additional Op Demo in January, with Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu confirmed as the chief guest for the occasion. The Navy Week in Vizag will feature several activities, including a Band Concert, interactions with veterans, and opportunities for children to visit naval ships.
Vice-Admiral Pendharkar underscored the Navy’s commitment to ensuring a free, open, safe, and inclusive maritime space in accordance with an internationally recognized rules-based order. He emphasized the Navy’s objective to remain “Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Ready,” ensuring the safeguarding of national maritime interests at all times.
Discussing future capabilities, Vice-Admiral Pendharkar highlighted the steady progress in the Navy’s capability enhancement plans. This includes the recent commissioning of INS Sandhayak, the first vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) Project, on February 3 of this year at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. The second ship, Nirdeshak, was delivered in October and is set to be commissioned on December 18.
The scheduled commissioning of the first Nilgiri Class Frigate, commencing with Nilgiri, and the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, with Arnala, are also on the horizon. Additionally, the Navy is integrating a multitude of unmanned and autonomous platforms into its operations. The initial deployment of rotary UAVs from naval ships marks a significant step forward. Other projects, including autonomous surface vessels like ‘Matangi’ and various subsurface platforms, are progressing through their developmental stages.
Vice-Admiral Pendharkar also provided an update on the ongoing infrastructure initiatives within the Navy, noting over Rs 1,200 crore worth of projects currently in various stages of execution. Noteworthy among these is the laying of the foundation stone for a Very Low Frequency (VLF) Station in Vikarabad, a project that is expected to significantly enhance long-distance naval communication capabilities. To accommodate the expected growth of naval assets in Visakhapatnam, augmentation projects for the berthing space in the Naval Dockyard are also underway.
