Indian Navy's Gunnery Seminar 2023 Concludes

Gunnery Seminar 2023 was conducted at the Naval Center of Excellence in Gunnery and Missile Warfare, INS Dronacharya on 13 and 14 Nov 23 under the auspices of Headquarters Southern Naval Command Kochi (Cochin).

Seminar once in every three years: 

• The symposium is an important event organized once in every three years which provides a platform to the experts in the artillery field to present their research papers on future technologies and matters related to operational use of sensors.

Chief guest of the program Admiral R Hari Kumar (CNS):

• Naval Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, who is also an artillery expert, was present as the chief guest at the event.
• Additionally, Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and several senior officers and gunnery experts from fleet and frontline ships of the Indian Navy also participated in the seminar.

Main topics of the seminar:

• The main theme of this year's symposium was 'Emerging Technologies in Gunnery and Missile Warfare' and a number of papers were presented by eminent panelists.
• During the seminar, topics like next generation missions and technologies, exploration of unique technologies of the modern navy and training for futuristic forces were discussed.
• A 'Compendium of Papers' presented during the seminar was also released.
• The event is being organized as part of the centenary celebrations of the former Chief of the Indian Navy, late Admiral RL Perera (Retd), who was himself a brilliant gunnery expert.

INS Dronacharya:

• INS Dronacharya is entrusted with the responsibility of training officers and sailors of the Navy, Coast Guard and friendly foreign maritime forces on all aspects of firepower and missile warfare.
• The main objective of INS Dronacharya is to train officers and sailors to deliver gunnery effectively on target.
• INS Dronacharya grooms sea warriors and equips them with the professional skills and indomitable spirit to man our mighty warships.
• The unit is also the nodal center for training of Sea Sentinel Force and naval center for training in constabulary operations for several countries of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• The unit is also the training authority for drill and ceremonies in the Navy and Coast Guard. INS Dronacharya was also designated as the Center of Excellence in Firepower and Missile Warfare in 2004.
• The unit is affiliated with the Indian Army School of Artillery in the spirit of joint manpower.
• The Preview Award of the Honorable President's Color was presented to INS Dronacharya, the Gunnery School of the Indian Navy, by President Draupadi Murmu on March 16, 2023.
• The President's Color or Mark is considered the most prestigious award presented by the President, the Supreme Commander of India, to a unit for exceptional services to the nation.

Main Commands of the Indian Navy:

• The Indian Navy is deployed under three area commands, each area commanded by a Flag Officer.
• The headquarters of the Western Naval Command is located in Mumbai in the Arabian Sea;
• The Southern Naval Command is based in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala and is also located in the Arabian Sea;
• The Eastern Naval Command is based in Visakhapatnam, (Andhra Pradesh), in the Bay of Bengal.
• The headquarters of all three military forces of India are located in New Delhi.

Chiefs of Indian Military Forces:

• Chief of Defense Staff General: Anil Chauhan
• Army Chief General: Manoj Pande
• Air Chief Marshal: VR Choudhary
• Navy Chief Admiral: R Hari Kumar