Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (India)

Last updated
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
Rear Admiral ensign of Indian Navy.svg
Flag of the ACNS (Rear Admiral flag)
Naval Ensign of India.svg  Indian Navy
TypeAssistant Principal Staff Officer (APSO)
AbbreviationACNS
Seat Naval Headquarters, New Delhi
Formation1967

The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (ACNS) is a senior appointment in the Indian Navy. The ACNS is an assistant PSO (Principal Staff Officer) at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. At present, there are eight appointments of ACNS who head different directorates. The appointments are held by a Two star officer in the rank of Rear Admiral.

Contents

History

The appointment of ACNS was created in 1967. The Chief of Naval Aviation (CONA) was re-designated Assistant Chief of Naval Staff. The ACNS was responsible for the directorates of Air Staff and Air Materiel and was held by an officer of the rank of Commodore. In 1969, it was decided to redistribute responsibilities amongst appointments at naval headquarters. The directorates of Submarines, Acquisition project and Meteorology were added to the ACNS. [1]

In 1972, the appointment was re-designated Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India) and upgraded to the rank of Rear Admiral. An assistant PSO in the rank of Rear admiral was created and called ACNS (Policy & Plans), reporting to the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. The ACNS (P&P) had the directorates of Plans, Works and Acquisitions under him. A new directorate of Management Services was created in 1974 and placed under ACNS (P&P). [1] In 1984, the appointments of Director Naval Operations (DNO) and Director Naval Air Staff (DNAS) were upgraded to the rank of Rear admiral and designated ACNS (Ops) and ACNS (Air) respectively. They reported into the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. [2]

In 1996, the submarine arm was reorganised and the appointment of ACNS (Submarines) was created as a class authority coordinating all aspects of submarine operations, logistics and maintenance. The ACNS (SM) would function as the senior submarine advisor at NHQ and report into the Controller Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A). [3] The Flag Officer Submarines dual-hatted as the ACNS (SM) until 2001, when it was created as a separate billet. [4] The post of ACNS (Special Submarine Projects) was created in 2001 and is responsible for all aspects related to the acquisition of special platforms built indigenously or from abroad and creation of related infrastructure for all special projects. The ACNS (SSP) reports into the Inspector General Nuclear Safety. [4]

In 2005, a new Assistant PSO position of ACNS (Foreign Cooperation and Transformation) was created with the Directorates of Foreign Cooperation (DFC), Foreign Liaison (DFL) and Strategy, Concepts and Transformation (DSCT) under it. A year later, it was rechristened ACNS (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) with the Directorate of Intelligence under it. [4] In 2012, the post of ACNS (Communications, Space and Network Centric Operations) was created with a plan to seamlessly integrate all combat platforms and terrestrial nodes through state-of-the art communications and space systems towards network-centric operations. [5] [6] [7]

In 2013, a Technical Assistant PSO was created under the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff - ACNS (Air Materiel). The same year, the position of ACNS (Ops) was upgraded to the rank of Vice Admiral and redesignated Director General Naval Operations (DGNO). [8] In 2018, the post of ACNS (Staff Requirements) was created under the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. [9]

Current organisation

There are eight appointments of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff at naval headquarters. Four each are under the Staff Branch-I and Staff Branch-II headed by the Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff respectively. [10] [11]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy & Plans)

The directorates under the ACNS (P&P) are: [10]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air)

The directorates under the ACNS (Air) are: [11]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)

The directorate under the ACNS (Submarines) is: [10]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Special Submarine Projects)

The directorates under the ACNS (SSP) are: [10]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence)

The directorates under the ACNS (FCI) are: [11]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Communications, Space and Network Centric Operations)

The directorates under the ACNS (CSNCO) are: [11]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air Materiel)

The directorates under the ACNS (AM) are: [11]

Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Staff Requirements)

The directorates under the ACNS (SR) are: [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

INS <i>Vikrant</i> (1961) Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy

INSVikrant was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II, but was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates significantly in the Persian Gulf Region, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and routinely conducts anti-piracy operations and partners with other navies in the region. It also conducts routine two to three month-long deployments in the South and East China seas as well as in the western Mediterranean sea simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laxminarayan Ramdas</span>

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC served as Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, taking the reins on 30 November 1990. Ramdas has served as Aam Aadmi Party's internal lokpal.

Operation Python, a follow-up to Operation Trident, was the code name of a naval attack launched on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. After the first attack during Operation Trident on the Port of Karachi, Pakistan stepped up aerial surveillance of its coast as the presence of large Indian Navy ships gave the impression that another attack was being planned. Pakistani warships attempted to outsmart the Indian Navy by mingling with merchant shipping. To counter these moves, Operation Python was launched on the night of 8/9 December 1971. A strike group consisting of one missile boat and two frigates attacked the group of ships off the coast of Karachi. While India suffered no losses, Pakistani fleet tanker PNS Dacca was damaged beyond repair, and the Kemari Oil Storage facility was lost. Two other foreign ships stationed in Karachi were also sunk during the attack.

Arnala class was an Indian designation for the Petya III-class vessels of the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani, PVSM, AVSM, NM was a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff from 1987 to 1989. Prior to that, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command. He was the Commissioning Commanding Officer of the INS Rajput (D51), the lead vessel of the Rajput class destroyers. He was awarded the Nausena Medal for gallantry during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (United Kingdom)</span>

The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.) is a senior appointment in the Royal Navy usually a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjay Mahindru</span> Indian Navy Flag officer

Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, AVSM, NM is a former flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, from 31 Mar 2022 to 30 September 2023. Prior to this, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA), having been appointed on 17 October 2016. He earlier served as Flag Officer Submarines from 2015 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet</span>

Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) is the title of the Indian Navy Officer who commands the Western Fleet, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The FOCWF is a two star admiral holding the rank of Rear Admiral. The appointment is considered to be an important and a coveted one. The Current FOCWF is Rear Admiral C. R. Praveen Nair, who assumed office on 10 November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Pakistan)</span>

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) are several very important administrative senior military appointments and principle staff commands, headed and commanded by the Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the NHQ. They are also the commander of their respective branch in the Pakistan Navy and these commands are held by senior flag officers of Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral rank in the Navy and are directly reporting and functioning under the Chief of the Naval Staff. DCNS appointments play a very important administrative role for the proper functioning of an entire navy. The DCNS appointments ranges from rear admiral to vice admiral rank depending on assignment nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)</span>

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) is a senior appointment in the Indian Navy. The DCNS is a PSO at Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. The office is held by a Three star officer in the rank of Vice Admiral. The current DCNS is Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti who took over Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru on 1 October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of Personnel (Indian Navy)</span>

The Chief of Personnel (COP) in the Indian Navy is a senior appointment in the rank of Vice-Admiral. As a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at Naval Headquarters (NHQ), the COP is responsible for personnel-related matters. The present COP is Vice-Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, who was appointed on 6 October 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Colin De Silva</span> Indian naval officer

Vice Admiral John Colin De Silva, PVSM, AVSM was a flag officer in the Indian Navy. He last served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) from 2001 to 2002. He also served as the 11th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, which he led from 1999 to 2001. He was the commissioning commanding officer of the Rajput-class guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay (D55). After retiring from the Navy, he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Overseas Employment Agency, an agency set up by the Government of Goa.

Rear Admiral Arun Auditto, AVSM, NM was a Flag Officer in the Indian Navy. He was decorated with a gallantry award during the Liberation of Goa. A pioneer submariner in the Indian Navy, he was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the Kalvari-class submarine INS Kursura (S20), which he commanded during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He later commanded the submarine base INS Virbahu and the Whitby-class frigate INS Trishul (F143). After promotion to flag rank, he served as the Fortress Commander Andaman and Nicobar (FORTAN) and as the first Flag Officer Submarines, before retiring in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer Submarines (India)</span>

The Flag Officer Submarines (FOSM) is the single-point class authority of submarines in the Indian Navy. A two star Officer holding the rank of Rear Admiral, the FOSM is responsible for submarine safety, submarine training, maintenance and operating schedules and operational readiness inspections. The current FOSM is Rear Admiral K. Venkatraman who assumed office on 1 April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sameer Saxena (admiral)</span> Indian Navy Admiral

Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, AVSM, NM is a serving Flag officer in the Indian Navy. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command. He earlier served as the Flag Officer Commanding Gujarat Naval Area, as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and as the Naval adviser to the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom at India House, London.

The Review of the Fleet by the President of India is an event where ships, submarines and aircraft from the Indian Navy are paraded to be reviewed by the President of India. The President of India as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces reviews the Indian fleet as Head of the Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area</span>

Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area (FOTNA) is a senior appointment in the Indian Navy. One of the five Area Commanders of the Indian Navy, the FOTNA is a two star admiral holding the rank of Rear Admiral. The FOTNA is responsible for the operations and administration of all units and establishments in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. The Current FOTNA is Rear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra, VSM, who assumed office on 25 April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area</span>

Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area (FOMA) is a senior appointment in the Indian Navy. One of the five Area Commanders of the Indian Navy, the FOMA is a two star admiral holding the rank of Rear Admiral. The FOMA has operational control of the flotilla and forces assigned for the local naval defence of all ports in Maharashtra and the 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron. Apart from this, the FOMA is responsible for the operations and administration of all units and establishments in Maharashtra. The current FOMA is Rear Admiral Manish Chadha, who assumed office on 10 November 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Hiranandani 1999.
  2. ↑ Hiranandani 2005.
  3. ↑ Hiranandani 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Singh 2018.
  5. ↑ "Navy creates new post to harness space-based capabilities". The Times of India. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Navy creates new post for network-centric operations". News18. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Navy creates new post for network-centric operations". business-standard.com. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Doraibabu & Godbole 2023.
  9. ↑ "Rear Admiral Antony George assumes charge as Chief Staff Officer at Southern Naval Command". Zee News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Staff Branch-I". indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Staff Branch-II". indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 26 December 2023.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.