Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumes command as 27th Chief of Naval Staff
New Delhi, May 31
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Sunday assumed command as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff. He emphasised that maintaining peak operational readiness and driving technological modernisation will be his topmost priorities amid a challenging regional security environment.
Expressing gratitude, the newly appointed Navy Chief stated that leading the force is the highest honour of his career.
Addressing the media, CNS Admiral Swaminathan said, "I assume command today as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff with a deep sense of humility, responsibility, pride, and gratitude. Being selected by the top leadership of the country for this job has been the highest honour and privilege of my life... Indian Navy stands vigilant to protect national interests wherever they are and is very actively deployed in a regional security environment that continues to remain challenging, complex, unpredictable, and uncertain."
Underscoring his operational roadmap to counter emerging maritime threats, he reiterated that safeguarding the country's economic and security interests remains paramount.
"It shall be my highest priority to ensure that the Indian Navy maintains the highest level of operational readiness and combat effectiveness so that it can protect the nation's security and economic interests wherever they can be. The Indian Navy is well set on a course of capability enhancement and modernisation. It shall be my endeavour to sustain the growth momentum of the Navy, consolidate all ongoing programs, scale up where required, and sharpen our operational capabilities through the induction of niche and emerging technologies as soon as I can," CNS Admiral Swaminathan stated.
The Navy Chief noted that indigenous defence manufacturing remains a Key Result Area (KRA) for his tenure.
"The Indian Navy is deeply committed to jointness, Atmanirbharata, and indigenisation, and that will also be one of my key result areas," he added.
CNS Admiral Swaminathan further expressed the maritime standard's collective gratitude to the outgoing Chief, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.
"I'd like to express the collective gratitude of the Indian Navy to Admiral Dinesh Tripathi for his highly meritorious and illustrious service to the nation. He has been an extremely effective CNS, led us very successfully... I will devote every single day of my life to making the Navy a better, stronger, sharper, and more impactful service," he asserted.
His remarks come after the outgoing CNS, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, expressed immense satisfaction while handing over the baton, highlighting the Navy's successful deployment footprint during critical global crises.
"Over the past few years, whenever the nation called, the Navy delivered. We saw it during Operation Sindoor, which still continues, and we are seeing it now during Operation Urja Suraksha amid the turmoil in West Asia... What we have demonstrated as a service is that we are there to protect and promote India's national maritime interests anytime, anywhere, anyhow," Admiral Tripathi said while speaking to reporters on the occasion here.
Exuding confidence in his successor's leadership, the outgoing Navy Chief added, "Today, as I hand over the baton of the Indian Navy to Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, I do it with satisfaction knowing that Admiral Swaminathan, a thorough professional and outstanding leader with proven quality and capacity, will take our Navy to greater heights."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good speech, but talk is cheap. We need to see faster progress on submarine building and aircraft carrier projects. The INS Vikrant took too long. Hope the new chief can speed things up without compromising quality. Regional security won't wait for our delays.
As someone who served in the US Navy, I have great respect for the Indian Navy's professionalism. The mention of "Operation Urja Suraksha" shows they're actively protecting energy security during West Asian turmoil. Strong leadership continuity is vital in these uncertain times.
👌 Impressive credentials, Admiral Sir. Your emphasis on "jointness" with the Army and Air Force is crucial. We can't have silos in our defence forces. Also glad to see the focus on "niche technologies" - AI and drones will define future naval warfare. Best wishes!
🇮🇳 So proud! But let's not forget the human element - our sailors and their families sacrifice so much. I hope the new chief also focuses on welfare measures and mental health support for personnel. A strong Navy needs happy and healthy warriors.
Interesting to see the Indian Navy's role in "Operation Sindoor" still continuing. The outgoing chief Admiral Tripathi seems to have done a great job. Here's hoping the transition is smooth and the Indian Navy continues to be a stabilising force in the region.
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