THE FUTURE OF SEA POWER

A Hybrid Navy for 2020: The Sri Lankan Strategy | 101
It is in this context that we looked into forming a ‘Hybrid Navy’ by 2020 to face these
rapidly evolving maritime security threats and challenges. The Sri Lankan hybrid
navy will comprise frigates, offshore patrol vessels, fast gun boats, fast attack craft,
arrow boats, inshore patrol craft and a fleet air arm with surveillance capability, either
independently formed or as a part of the Air Force. I strongly believe that the littoral
navies will greatly benefit if they could bring in smaller vessels to their fleets in order to
increase the manoeuvrability, fire power, penetration capabilities, flexibility and agility
in the face of modern maritime security challenges.
On quite a number of occasions, small boats have shown that they are capable of
penetrating the most advanced of maritime defence layers. I believe that a navy would be
able to yield better results by utilising the ‘hybrid concept’ against maritime terrorism,
piracy and illegal smuggling.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to once again reiterate the fact we are highly unlikely to
see naval fleets fighting each other. The future maritime threats are becoming rapidly
complex and lethal in many ways. The question we have in our minds is how best we are
going to face the current as well as emerging maritime security challenges.
To address this question in one of the most practical ways, the Sri Lanka Navy is focusing
on using its present fleet with a few additional larger platforms. The concept of combining
smaller fleet units with bigger vessels allows the Sri Lanka Navy to utilise its our own
small boats tactics to address present and future emerging maritime security issues
with agility and flexibility. And importantly, we are ready to share our experiences with
the rest of the world.
When such a formation is operating in the littorals, it will send a strong signal to those
who are planning to use our maritime space and freedom for illegal activities.
I could not find a better saying conveying that message, than what Sun Tzu said a long
time ago:
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming,
but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking,
but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.