Indian Navy should not buy any ship from Britain

The GREAT GAME played by the British resulted in the partition of India. Thereafter they have continued with it especially with respect to Jammu and Kashmir.

Later on even Khalistan got added to it and the game is continuing. Probably Rishi Sunak wanted to halt it but got kicked out most probably be cause of it.

Today UK is eager to have a FTA deal with India. It wants to sell its Rolls Royce jet fighter engines, naval ships etc and even collaborate with India on 6th generation fighters.

In fact an article written by someone alludes to Common sense — of Indians and says that it dictates that India buys not one but two rickety Albion Class LPDs from the UK Navy that are up for sale because the Govt cannot afford their operational cost.

In November 2024, the newly elected Labour government stated that it wants both ships to be removed from service by March 2025 and put them up for sale.Well very few know that Common Sense is not that Common.

The Indian Navy currently operates one LPD, INS Jalashwa, an ex-US Navy warship that was built way back in 1971 but was sparingly used, which allowed its prolonged use in the US Navy and the Indian Navy.

UK thinks that since INS Jalashwa is going to be decommissioned in the next 5-6 years, after which the Indian Navy will be left with no LPDs in its fleet and therefore it will eagerly buy their rickety buckets.

Probably Brits are unaware, Jane’s Weekly should keep them updated, that Hindustan Shipyard Vishakhapatnam has already going to build 4 LPDs for the Indian Navy, though in all sense and purposes, those ships will be available by 2032 onwards only for fleet service.

So no wonder Brits and their advocates are already propagating that the best idea is to buy the 2 Albion-class LPDs that the UK Navy has decided to put up for sale.

Built in the early 2000s, these ships are already some 20 years old and are becoming increasingly costly to keep them in operationally ready mode. Running costs while in extended readiness are estimated to be UK £4,00,000 per annum.

India now has decided to go in only for ships which are constructed locally. Already two Multi Purpose Vessels of 3750 tons are under construction to be followed by two more. These will act as gap fillers till availability of four to five LPDs.

India in fact should not be buying any ships, aircrafts etc from UK at any cost. In fact it was because of UK’s refusal of selling latest subs in early 1960’s and later on sabotaging te engines for HF24 Marut jet fighters that India turned to USSR for arms and weapons.

So Brits can forget discussions on other defence projects with the UK, like the fighter jet engine project with Rolls-Royce of the UK. could be a major player and could help in its development.