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![The warship, which is first in a series of four planned corvettes, can carry short-range missiles and an integral anti- submarine warfare helicopter [Image: defencenews.in]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BL22_NEWS_WARSHIP_2071929f.jpg)
The warship, which is first in a series of four planned corvettes, can carry short-range missiles and an integral anti- submarine warfare helicopter [Image: defencenews.in]
Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley commissioned the warship at the naval dockyard in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh’s port city of Vishakapatnam.
“INS Kamorta will serve this country effectively for a very long time. In recent months, amongst the various initiatives that the government has undertaken is indigenous manufacturing of our defense deployment,” the minister said.
The warship, which is first in a series of four planned corvettes, can carry short-range missiles and an integral anti- submarine warfare helicopter.
The new Indian government has boosted defense spending by 12 per cent to around $37 billion for the current fiscal year.
“By raising defence spending only cosmetically from 1.74 per cent to 1.78 per cent of GDP, Mr Modi has sent a powerful signal that social spending – healthcare, education and jobs – are as vital as national security,” says Ajai Shukla, a senior Indian journalist specializing in the global defence economy.
Shukla, however, says the “China threat” is overplayed.
“India is the world’s only significant power that is adding soldiers – its 1.5-million strong military is set to rise to 1.6 million this decade. This increase comes even as threats are diminishing, with a key potential adversary, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), having incrementally reduced its size by 1.7 million soldiers since 1985,” he added.
TBP and Agencies
