India deploys submarine hunters to tackle China's submarines in the Indian Ocean

There have been instances when Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines have popped up in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is why India has deployed its latest long-range maritime patrol aircraft and spy drones at its forward military base located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

ET sources from the defence ministry said that two of the country's most potent submarine hunters/killers, the naval Poseidon-8I aircraft, are soon completing their first-ever two-week deployment to the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

"Navy and IAF are also deploying their (Israeli) Searcher-II unmanned aerial vehicles to the islands on a temporary basis," a source told ET.
Eight P-8I aircraft, which were acquired under a $2.1 billion deal that was inked in January 2009 with US aviation major Boeing have been inducted at the INS Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu). These P-8Is have an operating range of over 1,200 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 907 kmph and are radar-packed. They would serve as "intelligent hawk-eyes" in gathering intelligence and detecting threats in the IOR.

Armed with deadly Harpoon Block-II missiles, MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, rockets and depth charges, they can neutralize enemy submarines and warships if required.

"The case for acquisition of another four P-8Is is in the final stages. P-8Is can operate from Port Blair (naval air station INS Utkrosh) to keep tabs on the entire region," the source confirmed.

Even after this much-needed operational requirement, India's first and only theatre command in the shape of Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) stands to suffer from relative neglect, despite the top priority that was given to it by the Modi government. To ensure that ANC, with requisite military force-levels and infrastructure, acts effectively as a pivot to counter China's strategic moves in IOR, there is still a lot that is yet to be done.

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