India: President Patil reviews Naval Fleet; sails in a ship

Mumbai, Dec 20 (PTI) After taking off in a frontline Sukhoi jet and riding a battle tank, President Pratibha today created history by sailing in a ship here for a fleet review of the Indian Navy. 77-year-old Patil, who reviewed a Naval fleet of 81 ships and 44 aircraft, said the Indian Navy's dominance in the region is set to grow with the induction of an aircraft carrier, new submarines and destroyers. "The Navy today is poised to achieve new milestones with the imminent induction of aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, the Kolkata class stealth destroyers, the follow-on frigates of the Talwar class, the indigenous ASW corvettes and an impressive number of submarines and aircraft. "Today, the Indian Navy is one of the most capable in the region and with its well thought out modernisation plans, is destined to grow even further," Patil said while addressing Naval officers and personnel onboard INS Subhadra, a naval offshore patrol vessel. Patil, who was secured by the elite marine commandos (Marcos) and snipers on the ship, wore a Navy cap as she took salute from different class of ships and aircrafts of the Navy during the over two-hour 'Presidential Fleet Review' ceremony. President of India under the country's Constitution is the Supreme Commander of India's Armed Forces. A fleet review is conducted once during the tenure of a President to showcase to the Supreme Commander the naval prowess and its strike capabilities. President Patil's five-year tenure will come to an end in July next year. "Safeguarding of our maritime borders is a major requirement for the social and economic well being of our country. The oil exploration activities off our coasts and at sea are of significant economic importance. Therefore, the protection of our coast, our 'sea lines of communications' and the offshore development areas is a major pre-requisite of our nation's development. These are major roles for the Indian Navy," Patil said in her address. The President was accompanied by Defence Minister A K Antony, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, the Maharashtra state Governor and the three service chiefs on-board the warship. After the fleet review, Patil inaugurated a Naval museum here which displays the history of the Indian Navy and of the country's ship building enterprise. PTI Caption for pic: Sailors on board India's aircraft carrier INS Viraat performing during the President's Fleet Review in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI Photo