India to install coastal radar network on fast-track basis
02 Sep 2011
New Delhi: With reports already doing the rounds of an Indian Navy ship tailing a Chinese spy ship disguised as fishing trawler two months back, the Indian ministry of defence is apparently providing the final touches to a plan for setting up a coastal radar network along the country's coastline as well as that of the Maldives.
Reports suggest Indian defence minister AK Antony held a high-level security review on Monday over beefing up of coastal security.
The plan will likely include beefing up coastal security for a number of littoral nations such as Bangladesh, Mauritius and the already mentioned Maldives.
The project for setting up coastal radars will be undertaken at a cost of Rs602 crore and a contract for their supply will likely be signed next week with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL).
A top Navy official said BEL will provide nearly 46 coastal radars, with the first being supplied to the Indian Navy by October this year. The remaining 45 will be provided over a 12 month period.
India has sought to bring Maldives into the Indian coastal security setup as its waters are being increasingly targeted by Islamic jihadi groups and Somali pirates for attacks on countries and international shipping.
