By Staff Correspondent
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, has concluded his remarkable service today after over 39 years of dedicated and illustrious contribution to the Indian Navy. During his tenure as VCNS, VAdm. Ghormade has left a significant imprint on the Navy’s progress towards becoming a combat-ready, credible, cohesive, and future-proof force. He has accomplished this through his unwavering focus on integrated planning, innovation, indigenisation, and adopting emerging technologies in capital acquisition, and infrastructure development, along with the optimisation of allocated fiscal resources.
VAdm. Ghormade has also been instrumental in charting a roadmap for the Theatrisation of Armed Forces, with a special emphasis on Tri-service synergy, jointmanship, and integrated planning. The Indian Navy, under his leadership, has been at the forefront of the country’s self-reliance initiative, AatmaNirbharta. He has provided dedicated efforts to encourage the Indian industry and DRDO, resulting in a continuous increase in indigenous content in Naval ships. The Indian Navy has effectively utilized the ‘Make’ and ‘iDEX’ route to achieve self-reliance by involving greater participation from the Indian industrial eco-system, including the private sector.
During his tenure, the Indian Navy laid the foundation for the induction of more than 75 game-changing technologies and products through SPRINT challenges, which were launched by the Prime Minister during Swavlamban Seminar, to be inducted by 15 Aug 23. VAdm. Ghormade’s leadership has enabled the Navy to plough back more than 2/3rd of the capital budget towards the Indian economy by processing from indigenous sources. Furthermore, 41 out of 43 ships and submarines for the Indian Navy are being constructed in Indian Shipyards.
His tenure also witnessed numerous schemes of innovation, indigenization, technological advancements, capability enhancements, and research and development projects with DRDO, DPSU, and industries, along with various infrastructure projects, thus contributing significantly towards combat efficiency. Under his supervision, the Indian Navy saw the allocation of the highest budget approvals with the highest AoNs, conclusion of shipbuilding contracts, SPRINT and IDEX projects, impetus to indigenization schemes, highest expenditure in Capital Works, and a push towards infrastructure projects.
Under VAdm. Ghormade’s leadership, the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned on 2 Sep 2022, in the presence of the Prime Minister, marking a historic milestone for the Indian Navy. On 6 Mar 2023, the maiden landing of LCA (Navy) on the flight deck of INS Vikrant at sea was completed, demonstrating India’s capability to design, develop, construct and operate an Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, with an Indigenous Fighter Aircraft. VAdm. Ghormade’s distinguished service and contributions will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
