<p>Half a dozen PLA Navy ships and sundry other Chinese vessels are operating in the Indian Ocean, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said here on Saturday, asserting that the Indian Navy was keeping a close watch.</p>.<p>In addition, vessels of nearly 60 other nations are also operating in the Indian Ocean, making it one of the most strategic zones in the maritime domain.</p>.<p>"A lot of Chinese ships operate in the Indian Ocean Region. We have about 4-6 PLA Navy ships, then some research vessels and a large number of Chinese fishing vessels. We keep a close watch on all developments," Admiral Kumar said in a press conference ahead of Navy Day.</p>.<p>"Nearly 60 other extra-regional forces are always present in the IOR. It's a vital region through which a large amount of trade transits and energy flows happen. Our job is to see India's interests are protected." </p>.<p>The Admiral said the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/indian-navy" target="_blank">Indian Navy </a>would become Atma-nirbhar (self reliant) by 2047 but in the shorter term efforts were on to purchase key equipment like Predator drones from abroad. </p>.<p>The case for the proposed procurement of a fleet of Predator drones from the US is under process.</p>.<p>India's plan was to procure 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones at a cost of over $3 billion to crank up India's surveillance apparatus along the frontier with China and in the IOR. </p>.<p>In 2020, the Indian Navy had taken on lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for one year for surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The lease period has been extended subsequently.</p>.<p>On the recruitment of women sailors and women officers, Admiral Kumar said in the first batch, about 3000 Agniveers joined the service, of whom 341 were women. </p>.<p>"From next year, we are looking at women officers being inducted across all branches and not just the 7-8 branches they're restricted to as of today," Admiral Kumar said.</p>.<p>Women sailors would be inducted in the same manner as their male counterparts.</p>.<p>"They will undergo similar tests and will be deployed on ships, air bases, and aircraft. They will be trained for everything the way a normal sailor is trained. There is going to be no difference in training," he said.</p>.<p>"We're looking at being a gender-neutral force where we only look at the capability of the individual," he said.</p>
<p>Half a dozen PLA Navy ships and sundry other Chinese vessels are operating in the Indian Ocean, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said here on Saturday, asserting that the Indian Navy was keeping a close watch.</p>.<p>In addition, vessels of nearly 60 other nations are also operating in the Indian Ocean, making it one of the most strategic zones in the maritime domain.</p>.<p>"A lot of Chinese ships operate in the Indian Ocean Region. We have about 4-6 PLA Navy ships, then some research vessels and a large number of Chinese fishing vessels. We keep a close watch on all developments," Admiral Kumar said in a press conference ahead of Navy Day.</p>.<p>"Nearly 60 other extra-regional forces are always present in the IOR. It's a vital region through which a large amount of trade transits and energy flows happen. Our job is to see India's interests are protected." </p>.<p>The Admiral said the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/indian-navy" target="_blank">Indian Navy </a>would become Atma-nirbhar (self reliant) by 2047 but in the shorter term efforts were on to purchase key equipment like Predator drones from abroad. </p>.<p>The case for the proposed procurement of a fleet of Predator drones from the US is under process.</p>.<p>India's plan was to procure 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones at a cost of over $3 billion to crank up India's surveillance apparatus along the frontier with China and in the IOR. </p>.<p>In 2020, the Indian Navy had taken on lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for one year for surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The lease period has been extended subsequently.</p>.<p>On the recruitment of women sailors and women officers, Admiral Kumar said in the first batch, about 3000 Agniveers joined the service, of whom 341 were women. </p>.<p>"From next year, we are looking at women officers being inducted across all branches and not just the 7-8 branches they're restricted to as of today," Admiral Kumar said.</p>.<p>Women sailors would be inducted in the same manner as their male counterparts.</p>.<p>"They will undergo similar tests and will be deployed on ships, air bases, and aircraft. They will be trained for everything the way a normal sailor is trained. There is going to be no difference in training," he said.</p>.<p>"We're looking at being a gender-neutral force where we only look at the capability of the individual," he said.</p>
