Indian Navy’s Gunnery Symposium 2023
Context:
The symposium took place at INS Dronacharya, the Navy’s Center for Excellence in Gunnery and Missile Warfare under the auspices of Headquarters Southern Naval Command.
Relevance:
GS – 02 (India and its Neighbourhood)
Main Details:
- This triennial symposium holds significance as it serves as a platform for experts in the field of gunnery to present research papers on topics related to future technologies and the operational utilization of sensors.
- The theme for the 2023 symposium was ‘Emerging Technologies in Gunnery and Missile Warfare’.
INS Dronacharya:
- Situated in Kochi, Kerala, INS Dronacharya is the premier gunnery school of the Indian Navy.
- Established in 1948 as the Indian Navy’s Gunnery School, it attained the status of INS Dronacharya in 1978.
- The training scope of INS Dronacharya extends to officers and sailors of the Navy, Coast Guard, and friendly foreign maritime forces, covering all aspects of gunnery and missile warfare.
- Designated as the Center for Excellence in Gunnery and Missile Warfare since 2004, INS Dronacharya is also the focal point for training personnel for the Sagar Prahari Bal (Ocean Sentinel Force), established in response to the 26/11 attacks and for the Indian Navy’s constabulary operations in the maritime domain.
- Gunners trained at INS Dronacharya have played pivotal roles in various naval operations since Independence, including Operation Trident (missile attacks on Karachi during the 1971 Indo-Pak War) and Operation Cactus (conducted during the 1988 Maldives coup d’état attempt).
- In recognition of its illustrious service, the President of India conferred the President’s Colour to INS Dronacharya on March 16th, 2023.
- The President’s Colour, or the Nishan, is the highest honor bestowed by the Supreme Commander, the President of India, on a unit for its exceptional service to the Nation.
