Government approves Phase II of coastal surveillance project

The Union Defence Ministry has given its nod to the Phase II of coastal surveillance project to expand the coastal radar surveillance network. It will strengthen surveillance of over 7,500-km coastline of the country.
The decision was taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. It also approved proposal of setting up of a shore-based intermediate engine repair facility for the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K fighters at the Naval yard in Goa.

Phase II of coastal surveillance project

• Phase II of coastal surveillance project involves setting up 38 additional radars aimed to give gap less electronic surveillance of Indian coastline.
• The project will be executed by Indian companies and Bengaluru based Bharat Electronics Ltd will be the lead integrator for the various works.
• Under it four mobile surveillance stations will be also set up and will be integrated with two vessel traffic management systems (VTMS) in Kutch and Khambat in Gujarat.

Background

The Central government had decided to set up a chain of static sensors to fill gaps in coastal surveillance and keep track of boats entering Indian territorial waters aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which terrorists used a fishing boat to enter the city. Under Phase I of the surveillance project, a chain of 46 coastal surveillance radars and electro-optic sensors were set up, including 36 in the mainland, 6 in the Lakshadweep islands and 4 in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Besides, India is also setting up similar radar stations in friendly Indian Ocean littoral nations.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC): It is an apex body of Union Defence Ministry for clearing defence procurement proposals forwarded by the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2017