Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, the 26th Chief of Staff, stated on Tuesday that, given the new challenges in the maritime domain, the Navy should always be operationally prepared to fend off potential adversaries. This was said shortly after Tripathi took office.
Admiral Tripathi, who is considered an expert in communication and electronic warfare, assumed command of the force when incumbent R Hari Kumar retired after forty years of service.
Admiral Tripathi, the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, was a graduate of the Sainik School Rewa.
The admiral took charge of the Navy at a time when various strategic waterways, including the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, were witnessing security challenges, especially with Houthi militants targeting merchant ships in the region.
“Over the years, our Navy has evolved into a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, and future-proof force, for which I want to thank all the esteemed former Chiefs of the Navy,” he told reporters.
“The existing and emerging challenges in the maritime domain mandate the Indian Navy to remain operationally ready to deter potential adversities at sea in peace and to win the war at sea when asked to do so,” he said. “That will remain my singular focus and endeavour,” the new Navy Chief said.
Besides the situation in the Red Sea, there have been growing concerns in India’s security establishment over China’s increasing forays into the Indian Ocean Region.
“I will also strengthen the ongoing efforts of the Indian Navy towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), towards new technologies and becoming an important pillar of the nation’s development towards our collective quest for ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he said.
Admiral Tripathi said he will also focus on issues relating to the force’s human resources.
“My priority will be to upskill our human resource that is the men and women of our Navy and provide them with the best armament, training, professional environment and administrative support,” Admiral Tripathi said.
Before taking charge, Admiral Tripathi paid tributes to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the lawns of the South Block at the Raisina Hills.
He also took blessings from his mother Rajni Tripathi, who was present at the South Block complex.
An alumnus of the Sainik School Rewa, Admiral Tripathi was serving as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff before taking the reins of the force. Born on May 15, 1964, Admiral Tripathi was commissioned into the executive branch of the Indian Navy on July 1, 1985.
A communication and electronic warfare specialist, he has had a long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years.
Prior to taking over as Vice Chief of Navy, he had served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.
Vinash, Kirch, and Trishul are Indian Navy ships that Admiral Tripathi has commanded.
Additionally, he has held a number of significant staff and operational positions, including principal director of naval plans, director of naval operations, fleet operations officer of the Western Fleet, and director of network-centric operations.
He commanded the eastern fleet as flag officer while serving as a rear admiral.
He was also the Commandant of the esteemed Ezhimala Indian Naval Academy.
An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Admiral Tripathi has undergone courses at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval Higher Command Course, Karanja and Naval Command College in the United States.
He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Nau Sena Medal (NM).
Admiral Hari Kumar retired following superannuation after a career spanning four decades.
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