With the Navy set to induct three nuclear and six conventional submarines in the next decade, Government as appointed Vice Admiral D K Joshi, a veteran submariner, as the new naval chief.
He will replace Admiral Nirmal Verma who retires on August 31.
Vice-Admiral Joshi, a specialist in anti-submarine warfare, had assumed command of the Western Naval Command in May last year.
Vice Admiral Joshi, who has also commanded the tri-Service Andaman and Nicobar Island command in the past, has commanded the guided-missile corvette INS Kuthar, guided-missile destroyer Ranvir and the country's solitary aircraft carrier INS Viraat during his long career. A graduate of the Naval War College, USA, he is also an alumnus of the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and National Defence College, New Delhi.
He takes over at a time when the Navy's ongoing warship, submarine and maritime aircraft acquisition programmes as well as proposed projects in the pipeline are estimated to together cost well over Rs 3,00,000 crore over the next 15 years, as was first reported by TOI earlier.
With the "maritime capability perspective plan for 2012-2027'' pegging the number of major warships required at about 150, there are already 44 warships and six submarines on order.
Moreover, contracts for another 45 warships, including six new submarines and seven stealth frigates, are in the pipeline. |