How Navy Is Guarding Against Terror Attack At Its Biggest-Ever Event

Visakhapatnam: In the Navy's biggest-ever event, ships from 50 countries have converged off the coast of Andhra Pradesh for inspection by President Pranab Mukherjee. India alone is parading 75 warships for the ceremonial inspection; 24 international warships have also sailed in.

But the event, designed to display India's naval might and prowess, is surrounded by grave security concerns, partly because of the deadly terror attack last month at the Pathakot air force base in Punjab, where seven military personnel were killed.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present tomorrow to review the ships gathered off the Visakhapatnam port.

Sources in the Navy say a special concern is the threat of asymmetric warfare - the danger of a terror attack launched from small, fast boats. "In an event like this, where ships are anchored and not mobile, the main threat would be a boat commanded by a group of people which could be laden with explosives, or a group of desperados to try and embark the ship," said Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Commander in Chief of Western Naval Command.
 The Navy has formed an elaborate matrix of defense with submarines, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and fast interceptor boats armed with heavy machine guns.  

The meet will bring together 50 countries, 100 ships, 24 foreign warships and 4,000 sailors.
The international fleet review, only the second ever held by India, is intended to assert India's maritime leadership at a time when Beijing has increased its influence in the Indian Ocean region.
 With a pack of foreign naval chiefs in attendance, India must pull off not only an impressive show and tell, but also ensure the security of the international flotilla that has arrived at its invite.