The Indian Navy has performed a "miracle" (karishma), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, heaping wholehearted praise for the force's numerous operations in foreign waters where it assisted several merchant ships commandeered or threa﷽tened by pirates.
In an exclu𒁏sive interview to PTI, Singh also dropped hints of the government's readiness to positively consider the N♚avy's proposal for construction of a second aircraft carrier.
The Navy has been making a strong pitch for having the second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II) with a displacement of♛ 45,000 tonnes which is estimated to cost close to Rs 40,000 crore with the envisaged specifica🌳tions.
𝓡Exuding confidence of the National Democratic Alliance retaining power for a third straight term, he said the new gove✃rnment's focus would be to make India totally self-reliant in the defence sector.
Singh said India's ann💦ual defence exports crossed Rs 21,000 crore mark for the first time in 2023-24 and that his ministry has set a target of increasing it to Rs 50,000 crore in the next five-six years.
"We will take it to more than Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30," h𝔍e said.
On Navy operations in the strategic waterways, Singh🌟 said the force deserves praise.
"The India Navy has done miracle. Congratulations to the Navy. (Indian ♛Nav💛y ne Karishma kiya. Nav ko Badhai)," he said.
In the last few months, the Indian Navy extended assistance to a number of merchantౠ vessels in the Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and strategic waterways around the Red Sea following attacks on them.
Late last month, the Indian Navy swiftly assisted a Panama-f🐻lagged crude oil tanker with 30 crew members, including 22 Indians, after the vessel came under missile attack from Houthi milꦐitants.
There have been growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vess🃏els in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants.
The Navy has foiled attacks by pirates on several ships i💮n the region since January.
Asked about the Navy's push for💟 a second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), Singh indicated that it is being favourab🐽ly considered.
India’s first indigenously-buil🌊t aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (IAC I) was commissioned in September last year.
Built at a cost💦 of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defence network and anti-ship missile systems.𒐪 It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters.
The Navy has been pitch﷽ing for three aircraft carriers to deal with China's growing naval prowess and its growing influence over the Indian🌜 Ocean region.
At present, India has two aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya an🍨d INS Vikrant. INS Vikramaditya is a Russian origin platform.
