Karwar, Sep 10:?Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday dedicated “?Vajrakosh” a missile storage facility in Karwar, for arming the warships on the western sea-board.
“The crew would ensure that the missiles in Vajrakosh remain ever ready for operational deployment,” Parrikar said after commissioning the missile silo in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan and other senior officials.
Addressing a press meet Parrikar said that the work on second ‘A’ phase of Seabird naval base in Karwar would commence next year. He said that Barrack missile had been successfully installed on the latest aircraft carrier INS?Vikramaditya. The work on developing the indigenous engine “Ghatak”?is in progress.
Navy now plans to construct a submarine pen and a naval air station in this north Karnataka port.
“Karwar is set to emerge as the Indian Navy’s premier base on the Western seaboard in the not too distant future. Some of the vital naval assets are planned to be based there,” said Dhowan.
Naval units operating out of Karwar are required to be equipped with specialised armaments and missiles, which need sophisticated missiles and ammunition storage facility. INS Vajrakosh will have all the required infrastructure and is manned by specialists to meet these requirements.
The defence minister was also given a detailed plan on the future expansion plan for Karwar. “Karwar will also be the Navy's cleanest base,” said Parrikar.
Parrikar said that the Union government was prepared to allow civilian aircraft on the runway being constructed at the naval base. “However, it is yet to be seen how many airlines evince interest to operate their flights from here. The Defence ministry has allowed civilian aircraft on its runways at several places but there has been lukewarm response from private airlines,” he said.
The defence minister met Commander Nitin Joshi, pilot of the crashed naval Dornier, who was rescued by the fishermen. He also awarded the fishermen.
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