39th Anniversary of Indian Coast Guard

39th Anniversary of Indian Coast Guard

    Indian Coast Guard today celebrates it's 39th Birth anniversary. The Coast guard formally established  same date in 1978, with the mission of securing Indian waters, and work closely with state maritime police and customs departments. The CG comes under the Indian Armed forces controlled by the Ministry of defense. The Coast Guard also have responsible duties to secure the Indian Contiguous zone and  EEZones.

     The coast guard almost revamped after the 26/11. After 26/11 new procurement's and additional manpower also a new operating procedures too drafted. Later that Mumbai attacks the Coast Guard jointly worked with Indian Navy to thwart many incidents both from China and Pakistan. The Coast Guard commuted work inside the safe zone, where Navy can work more widely to identify foreign threats. 

     The CG has a huge formation of ships, with 2000 tons heavy Samarth Class offshore patrol vessel's. and older generation Samar Class OPV's. The CG aims to having more than 150 ships along with 100 aircraft's before 2020. Currently CG has nearly 100 Ships which include Interceptor Boats and Major OPV vessels. CG has a manpower of more than 11,000 personnel's. The CG also having fixed wing surveillance aircraft like Do 228. 

     The New procurement plans which include newly ordered L&T designed OPV's. each reported having more than 2000 Tons, Pipavav also building fourteen new Fast patrol vessels, and another five OPV's. CG also negotiating to purchase 12 ton multi role helicopters for broader range of maritime sear and rescue and Surveillance missions. 

     Mostly the CG ships has more surveillance and rescue equipment, however less fire power, Most of the OPV's having only 30 mm cannon as main gun, and having no other defensive systems except some 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm Heavy machine guns. The navigation and surveillance systems are in top class for SAR missions and Patrol missions.  

      CG also operates eighteen modern Hover crafts made by UK firm Griffon, Known as best in his category. Most of them are built in Kolkata based GRSE under Transfer of Technology. Those Hovercraft's can assist the CG to conduct operations close to shores and Islands. 

    In India, more than 2,50,000 lakhs of Fishing boats and trawlers, where more than one lakh of them go to sea everyday. It's the Coast Guard's duty to verify and clear to sail, However checking all of them everyday is not possible, CG issued color codes to Fishing boats depend upon his category to identify the vessel, whether it's Indian or Foreign.

    In coming years CG will gets each and every boats data by installing transponders and GPS receivers, So they can be easily traced on a regular basis.  The CG also uses it's airborne platforms which comprises of nearly 38 Do 228 maritime surveillance planes, and 20 other light helicopters. However the numbers may increase in future.

EC 725 won the race to supply MRH Helicopters to Coast Guard

EC 725 won the race to supply MRH Helicopters to Coast Guard

    After years of delay, finally the defense ministry shortlist the Airbus Helicopters to supply fourteen EC 725 Multi role helicopters to the Coast Guard with possible follow on orders. After the 26/11 the Coast guard comes with a list of modernization option which include naval multi role helicopters. Which can be used for long range search operations, reconnaissance operations and tactical transports. The Coast guard Chetak and ALH Dhurv limited in range and support systems which are not capable to conduct long range search and patrol missions, and the Chetak helicopters are being old.

     The RFP floated earlier 2010 valued some $400 millions to supply 14 naval multi role helicopters. The bid send to multiple vendors include Sikorsky, Agusta Westland, NH Industries and Airbus, all of them presented their naval multi role variants. However ICG officials selected the Sikorsky H 92 and Airbus EC 725 for final trails. One who wins the race who will be ready to supply some 14 helicopters with follow on orders of more. Also ICG proposes Indian sub vendor for the Helicopter supply, possible Make in India program.

     After serious of trails in last some months, the ICG proposes the Defense ministry to select the Airbus EC 725 to supply those MRH to ICG. with the concern of recent Joint venture between Mahindra aerospace systems and Airbus Helicopters. The deal also comes with the offset clause of some 25% making some $100 millions back to Indian private sector. mostly this amount goes to the Mahindra. meanwhile the TATA building the H 92 fuselage in India.

    The twin engine EC 725 can carry upto 30 infantry troops inside it's large cabin, which can be modified into flying ambulance, by converting into beds, which suits for search and rescue missions. meanwhile the H 92 is a modified version of S 70, whose cabin size is less, compared to the EC 725. the H 92 cabin 8 feet smaller than the EC 725. makes the EC 725 carry more personnel's.

H 92 in action

     By development the EC 725 designed to meet the French tri services, Search and rescue missions and troop transport. the EC 725 comes with defensive equipment's like integrated air defense systems and countermeasure suites. The helicopter comes with Thales designed self protection systems and the Helibras built countermeasure dispensing systems, which is the primary self defense system used in the EC 725. The H 92 self protection systems based on the proven S 70 based systems. However  both helicopters are capable to operate in dense battlefield area's with the help of such defensive systems.

    Both helicopters are bit heavy in configuration due to the light armor body, while the EC 725 can be retrofitted with removable armour plating for more cover. Both helicopters runs with twin engines, as EC 725 comes with Turbomecca 1776 kW engines and the H 92 comes with General Electric 1879 kW engines. With the high powerful engines the H 92 leads in the Combat range of some 500 Kilometers, where the EC 725's combat radius is some 400 kilometers. Meanwhile the EC 725 is much faster than the H 92.

    The major difference between the EC 725 and H 92 is the height of flying. Indian military planners always selects much high flying helicopters for many reasons. Here the EC 725 can fly as much as 20,000 feet, while H 92 can go upto some 14,000 feet only. However both of these helicopters can fly well above from the MANPAD range.

convertible options of H 92 in British CG SAR

    Both helicopters works in any tough weather conditions and conduct all kind of missions in both day and nights. The EC 725 can carry a pulse Doppler radar for SAR imaging and FLIR pod for search and reconnaissance missions. Which allows the Helicopters works well in both maritime and land based search and rescue missions. The H 92 comes with retrofitted systems for search and rescue missions. 

    British is the first customer for H 92 modified with search and rescue missions, which comes with FLIR pods, multiple communication systems and  rescue hoist. The primary SAR comes with the Honeywell based Skyforce observer systems. By comparison both H 92 and EC 725 is best for Search and rescue missions.

    The unique options of the EC 725 is comes with the side mounted 7.62 machine guns and Rockets for small fire support to the crew's in battlefield. which can be used for interception duties in maritime operations too. The EC 725 comes with a retractable refueling probe, which can be used for refueling in the air to increase the combat range of the EC 725 to operate much longer ranges.  

   As of now, The Defense ministry just shortlisted the seven years old coast guard proposal, and it may take another some years to finalize the contract and commissioning the helicopters in the Coast guard.

Lost ICG Dornier found under the sea after 33 days

Lost ICG Dornier found under the sea after 33 days

Full Text of press release from Sitanshu Kar, Chief Spokesperson, MoD

     Indian Naval Submarine Sindhudhawaj, whilst on redeployment for locating the missing aircraft, picked up a barrage of transmissions in a depth of 996 meters on 06 Jul 2015. This information was a vital source for deployment of the Reliance vessel, M/v Olympic Canyon, to localise the search.

    Consequently, the unrelenting and uninterrupted search which, included 693 hours of surface effort and 196 hours of air effort finally yielded positive results. This state of the art Multifunctional Support Vessel of M/s Reliance India Limited with integrated Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was able to locate and recover the FDR (Flight data recorder) and one Line Replacement Unit (LRU) from a depth of 950 meters in a unique and first ever salvage at such depths.

    The flight data recorder could provide vital inputs towards establishing the cause of the incident. This is a major accomplishment to the unprecedented search operation which was launched about 30 days back.

#ICGDornier Debris located by ROV Support Vessel, Olympic Canyon, thru TX detected by INS Sindhudhwaj. pic.twitter.com/y9n3ca2qII

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 10, 2015

#ICGDornier The vital Flight Data Recorder and one Line Replacement Unit of the ill-fated aircraft recovered. pic.twitter.com/N0gTOjGJBW

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 10, 2015

#ICGDornier Debris located in position 17 NM frm nearest land & approx 20 NM SE of Cuddalore in 950 m depth. pic.twitter.com/QiNahunDnZ

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 10, 2015

The Front wheel of the ill fated Dornier

 The Black box

In Dornier Crash, First Woman Officer Dies in Line of Duty

Lt. Shekhawat

     The Indian Navy Dornier that crashed during a night sortie on Tuesday had claimed the life of a woman officer. The body of Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat - the first Indian woman officer to die in the line of duty - was recovered today.

    Lieutenant Shekhawat, 27, was commissioned into the Navy in 2010. She was training to be an Observer - an officer in charge of all sensors on board a surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

     Early this morning, the wreckage of the Dornier was found about 60 m under the sea at south-west of Goa coast. The body of Lieutenant Shekhawat was found inside the fuselage of the aircraft.

     "Lieutenant Shekhawat was unable to come out of aircraft," a senior officer said. The cause of the crash - a first by a Dornier -- will be determined by Board of Inquiry, he added.

       Lieutenant Shekhawat's father retired from the Navy as Master Chief Petty Officer and her brother is also sailor with the Navy. Her husband is also a naval officer and an instructor in the Naval Academy in Ezhimala in Kerala. The two had married about two years ago.

  "She was extremely focused and disciplined officer," a senior Navy officer told NDTV.

       Lieutenant Shekhawat was also part of the Navy Woman Officer Contingent - the first ever all-woman officer contingent - that participated in this year's Republic Day Parade.

Article Posted in NDTV by Sudhi Ranjan Sen

The Bakistani Terror Boat

The Bakistani Terror Boat 

     The setting hours for a new year 2015 the country was busy preparing for the celebrations but  The Coast Guard of India was in full action mode armed with vital evidence from our intelligence agencies with a “ intruder alarm “ ringing out load. An intruder with a repeat of 26/11 on cards. The vet work of the intelligence agencies proved to be a grand success and the Coast guard intercepted the boat off the Gujarat Coast. The Coast guard following the SOP ordered the boat to be stopped and to be prepared to be boarded. But the Pakistani flagged fishing trawler refused to follow the orders and steered in a hostile move against the orders of the Indian coast guard, trying to evacuate from the EEZ. After hours of drama on the high seas the trawlers crew resorted to firing. The coast guard in response fired upon the trawler ending the chase game. It was just another day for the armed forces safe guarding the nation from hostilities often launched across the border.

   On Dec 31st, Indian Intelligence agencies picked up a suspicious Pakistani flagged fishing trawler was off the coast of Pakistan. Resources under the service of Intelligence agencies reported the activity with the trawler loading unidentified materials and huge stocks of fuels an d departing from the port of KetiBunder, Karachi. With the information received the Indian agencies immediately reported the activity to the top brass. With various other resources confirming of suspicious activity, the Coast guard was immediately summoned to do what they were best at.

ICGS Rajratanwho kills the enemy Boat

Upon being briefed, Indian Coast Guard immediately went into action mode launching  the Indian Made ‘German origin’ “ Dornier Do 228 “ which is an proved platform for Maritime search and Track, flying low the Dornier started the sweeping vast stretches of open sea to identify  the small trawler. After repeated pass by’s, the trawler was spotted steadily making its way towards the Indian coast. The Surveillance party immediately summoned the Central Command centre about the suspicious trawler. IGC in-shore patrol vessel(IPV) Rajratan was charged with the operation to intercept and board the trawler. With the interception successful the ICG IPV immediately ordered the trawler to slow down and be prepared to be boarded upon. But the trawler continued to speed away and started evading the ICG ship. Following the SOP the ICG crew fired the warning shots but the trawler continued evading the ICG ship. The Central command was appraised of the followings and the ICG ship was given a free hand for action. With a certain fate of death awaiting them the jihadists set the board ablaze and the resulting fire engulfed the trawler and the resulting explosions sinking the suspicious trawlers with all the Jihadists taken care of.

 Shortly after the operation GOI reported the success of the operation commending the “ ICG “ and shedding some light towards the operation with some photos.

The nation celebrated the operation’s success and commended the ICG for the safe guarding and the news was aired and the MoD officially reported of the operation and named the trawler to be of Pakistan origin.

But what followed was a series of serious allegation from the Think tanks based out of Delhi accusing the GOI and ICG of running a fake operation. The next 48 hours was covered with various questions regarding the operation. This is my sincere attempt to answer these serious questions which have questioned the very operational manner of our Navy and ICG .

why was the trawler fired upon .?

   The very first point to note is that the trawler was operating in EEZ/Indian territorial waters. Law of the sea states that if intercepted by a “ Military force “ of a nation you are operating in and you are demanded for an investigation the visiting vessel has to follow the orders.  Defying this the Pakistani flagged trawler operating deep within the Indian waters attempted to steer away from the ICG when the orders were made. The ICG immediately sticking to their SOP fired resorted to the warning shots.The intruders firing further orders from the IGC set the trawler upon fire.

  But the very question that needs to be asked to Journalists questioning the integrity of the armed forces is “Why would a fishing trawler supposedly involved in fishing activities evade the IGC ? Why weren’t the orders followed? Why would the ship evade and resort to firing against a warship.

    Its a worldwide practice for all fisherman to follow the orders enforced upon them by the governments. But what was witnessed here was totally opposite. Forced with the responsibility to safe guard the nation out IGC followed the line of action. Ultimately all that matters is the safety of the nation.

How do you know that's a Terror Boat..!

   Armed with the Naval intelligence our Navy has possibly placed informant's all over the world. That backed with the sophisticated satellites its always a possibility to keep eye on suspicious activities. With the intelligence agencies picking up the trawler Karachi the trawler was put under surveillance. The Dornier Do 228 surveillance aircraft pieced the final pieces in the puzzle . And finally the hostility shown by the Trawlers crew simply summed up the motives of the intruders.

Was taking them to custody a option..?

 The consignment of the trawler was not confirmed .The input was only about suspicious activity. So taking them to custody was always a option. The very first action from IGC was to intercept and board the trawler. But the trawler complicated the issue without following the orders. Witnessing hostile action the IGC yet again followed a SOP which mandates any ship getting in close vicinity to a suspicious vessel .


Was the Trawler actually fired upon..?





Initially some reports reported that the ICG fired shots at the trawler thereby hitting the large cache of Ammo aboard the trawler and in turn setting the trawler on fire and sinking it . But ICG has never confirmed about shots being fired upon the trawler.GOI has officially confirmed that the intruders themselves set the trawler on fire fearing action from IGC ships.

This was the first major operation after Parrikar took over MoD. A lot of  controversy was made out of this in India, but nothing was really reported from the across border in Pakistan. These controversies questioned the very integrity of Indian Coast guard

. The top brass of IGC ranging from  IG to the ships commander being put under scanner. Much was made of this by the Media and Think Tanks. This may ultimately change the way our forces take action towards any future hostility. This has surely downed the spirits of our armed forces.

It was the duty of Indian Coast Guard to protect the EEZ and as far as that goes the IGC has performed a great job to the point. I believe them to the last breath and there is no doubt those brave man performed a flawless operation saving a thousand lives back in the country with putting their life’s at stake. Hope there arises no doubts about their operational integrity in the Future.


Jai Hind, Bravo Coast Guard


Editor Karthik Kakoor