'Live terrorist threats exist for training centres'

Kochi, Nov 27: Southern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi today said ''live terrorist threats'' existed for military training centres across the country.

Addressing mediapersons here, Vice-Admiral Bedi said the training establishments were 'soft targets' as the centres did not indulge in operational actvities.

He said the major challenge for the Navy was to thwart the assymetrical attacks like human bombs of the terrorists.

Taking into consideration the security scenario, he said the Navy week celebrations would be limited to the base itself.

''The Navy would play a dominant role in safeguarding the maritime interests, protection of key communication links and providing energy security,'' he said.

In a bid to upgrade and modernise the air fleet of the Navy, 16 MIG 29s and modern helicopters would be inducted in the near future, he said.

A contract was signed with the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) to manufacture the Light Combat Aircraft(LAC) for the Navy, he added.

He said the construction of six submarines was underway and the first one would be inducted in 2012.

Vice-Admiral Bedi admitted that there was a shortfall in submarines in the Navy as the last induction was in 1995.

To a question on whether the Vallarpadam Terminal project posed any threat to the Naval base here, V Adm Bedi said there were some inhibition on the height of various cranes as it may come into the flying zone of the base. Subsequently, the project was approved by the Defence Ministry and the commercial development of the project was on.

The Command, a single point controller for various types of training in the Navy, conducted 1,499 courses of varying duration and trained 25,880 personnel (both officers and sailors).

Presently, 206 foreign personnel from 16 countries were undergoing training at the Command as part of the national policy to impart training to personnel from friendly nations, he informed.

The entry level qualification for general sailors was increased to 12th Std from matriculation and would be effective from July next year.

He said a Sail Training Ship, INS Tarangini, would undertake a voyage to the US next year and later call on 24 ports in 16 countries.

The Command would also provide training to personnel through e-learning to equip them with cutting-edge technology, he said.

UNI