I intend to write a series of articles titled "Busting Myths: Buyer’s Air Arm in a Builder’s Navy?"  It is sometimes said, rather unfairly, that whilst the surface component of the Indian Navy has displayed a remarkable innovative streak and pushed for indigenisation, the same cannot be said for naval aviation. My personal view, after having seen things closely as a naval officer and as someone who actually handled innovation for the Navy, has always been quite the opposite. The smaller cadres (the divers, submariners and aviators) are, as per me, more open to innovative ideas than less. Yes, we still have imported aircraft in our inventory, the ‘innovative’ streak is nonetheless apparent, and has been over decades. Facts must, therefore, be stated upfront and dispassionately examined…so that the right lessons may be gleaned. The facts (which I will substantiate in my articles) stand as these: The Navy first mooted the idea of inducting helicopters for defence use; when the idea didn’t find favour with the other two services, the Navy was still the first to move an individual procurement case for helicopters; the first helicopter pilot in India (civil or defence) was a naval officer; the Navy first facilitated licenced manufacture of helicopters in India; the Navy was the first to fit weapons and sensors on helicopters; the Navy first moved a case for multi-engine helicopters; the first to induct contra-rotary birds; the first to move a case for Air-Borne Early Warning (AEW); the first to fit EW systems on helicopters (including indigenous EW); the first (indirectly) to propose and support the licenced manufacture of fixed wing aircraft in India; and, the first to then change the role of these aircraft to Information Warfare platforms. If we argue that it is not just about platforms, the Navy was also the first amongst the services to have satellite communication, a service wide intranet (NEWN), Software Defined Radios, satellite navigation, GPS and DGPS, an in-house developed software radio modem to enable exchange of positions, a ‘Common Operational Picture’ ,and, GAGAN enabled landing at a military airfield (INS Hansa). If we consider the ongoing changes in warfare, while everyone spoke about it, the Navy was the first to “put its money where its mouth is”. The first confirmed order for service-wide small multi-copter drones was by the Navy. First formal support (in terms of confirmed development cases and committed Minimum Order Quantity) to the HAPS and loyal-wingmen concepts was from the Navy as well, even though both these concepts have been steered by retired Air Force pilots @joe_sameer & @hvtiaf. It may therefore be unfair to say that naval aviation has lagged behind.  I am doing research from primary sources. I am relatively well familiar with the @indiannavy account or the history. I am now reading @bharatrakshak @vayusena & @CAPS_INDIA. I have come across some fascinating insights by @architgupta about initial rotary wing developments. The first in the series of articles is about helicopters. Will put it out tomorrow. Dorniers next. When I reach the later parts I will also speak to doyens of naval aviation innovation & indigenisation like @JA_Maolankar to get first hand insights.

A mind-boggling *100-plus* ships and submarines @indiannavy are under construction or in the pipeline, at DPSUs and private yards. Add smaller craft & Coast Guard @IndiaCoastGuard vessels and that number more than doubles! In this thread, Let’s see the numbers…starting with 42 ships of @indiannavy already under construction. 1/n