Serving the Nation: Indian Navy Entering its Best Years

With a glorious maritime past, the Indian Navy has a large area to safeguard while the world’s spotlight is on India, especially because India is considered a bulwark between the United States and China. The Indian Navy’s order book for 2025 is timely as the Indian Navy aspires to become a 196-ship force by 2035. However, India must have a National Strategy to guide the Armed Forces

Geography makes for history and strategy, and India did not choose its geography or neighbours but it is time it must have a National Strategy or a White Paper to guide the Armed Forces. Policy decisions alone do not augur well for a large nation like India anymore.

India had a glorious maritime past with influence in Southeast and Middle East Asia. It grew economically till the 14th century, even under Muslim rule, but faced foreign challenges and domination till 1947, when the British left India in poverty.

But in the 21st century, the world’s spotlight is shining on a rising India and it is viewed as a bulwark between the USA and China. India’s maritime geography of a 7,500 km coastline with far-flung Andaman and Nicobar in the East and Lakshadweep islands in the West are India’s strategic assets for India to develop and grow. India is a rising economic and military power in the Indo-Pacific, and it is a bulwark state between the superpower USA and a fast-rising China challenging the USA in the East.

Geopolitical factors count; 90% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value go through the Indian Ocean, along with 60% of world trade, which is the Indian Navy’s responsibility to safeguard. This needs a strong Navy. Maritime trade channels and freedom of navigation have become a significant concern for India, the QUAD nations the USA, Japan and Australia, and most Western nations, as a dominating China has usurped the South China Sea and challenges the UN International Laws of the Seas. The Russo-Ukraine war in its third year and Israel versus Palestinian Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi wars with a regime change in Syria will affect the world’s stability, Donald Trump takes over as President of the USA only on January 20, 2025, but has made announcements on policy changes he intends to make.

India’s challenges may include a dip in the economy from workers in the Middle East and the tariffs Trump threatens on BRICS. The good news is that a pin has dropped. EAM S Jaishankar has come to create peace and tranquility on the border with China. This will allow India’s leadership some respite and the Army to safeguard India’s 15,200 km more easily. Trade and air flights with China could begin to drum up India’s economy, and the list of ships, submarines and aircraft the Indian Navy can look forward to predicts that the Indian Navy@2025 and beyond is going into its best years in service of the nation. India has exported Naval BRAHMOS missiles to the Philippines which may give rise to more orders as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbharta steams ahead and defence exports rise.

Maritime trade channels and freedom of navigation have become a significant concern for India, the QUAD nations the USA, Japan and Australia, and most Western nations, as a dominating China has usurped the South China Sea and challenges the UN International Laws of the Seas

During the customary Navy Day press briefing on December 2, CNS Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi outlined the Navy’s aspirations to become a 196-ship Navy by 2035 with 63 ships on the anvil. This author briefly lists what the reader may like to note, as the introduction of GST and digital payments has controlled corruption and fattened the government’s coffers. The CNS mentioned the order for 26 Rafales would be signed soon, of which four will be twin seaters. The Rafales armoury would join the KH35E anti-ship, R-73/RW-AE missiles of the Navy’s MiG-29K to make the Navy’s air attack component more potent. In December 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Tushil at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and the second Krivack Tamala will join in 2025. Goa Shipyard Ltd is building two Krivacks, the Triput and another yet to be named.

THE NAVY’S ORDER BOOK IN 2025 IS ASPIRATIONAL AND TIMELY

On January 15, 2025, the sixth Scorpene Vagseer, the first of 7 Type 17A, Nilgiri, will be commissioned possibly by PM Modi himself with the last of four Type 15B Surat with AI-assisted systems. All three are from MDL. This will be a big boost as CNS stated that 9 ships will be commissioned in 2025.
The face of the fighting Navy is changing. All the major fleet ships have BRAHMOS and Barak missiles, M/F Star radar, EW and GSAT-7 internet connectivity and reliable gas turbines. Progressively, 26 Lockheed MH60R helicopters with the latest sonars, Mk 54 torpedoes and Naval Hellfire-type anti-ship missiles are being added.
The Navy’s three very well-designed Cadet Training Ships by L&T will begin deliveries in 2025. This will be a welcome induction for more professional training as currently, miscellaneous platforms are acting as the First Training Squadron (TS 1)
The Navy will commission three Type 17A frigates from MDL after Nilgiri as Udaygiri, Taragiri, Vindhyagiri, and three Himgiri, Dunagiri and Mahendragiri from GRSE.
The second SSBN INS Arighat commissioned on August 29, 2024 and the third SSBN is in an advanced stage of construction at the Ship Building Centre (SBC) as viewed per Google Maps and should be commissioned in the next two years. Moreover, orders for 2 SSNs for Rs 40,000 crore should make traction. An SSN from Russia may join on lease.

India’s challenges may include a dip in the economy from workers in the Middle East and the tariffs US President-elect Donald Trump threatens on BRICS. The good news is that a pin has dropped. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has come to create peace on the border with China

The Navy’s auxiliary fleet will have commissioned 19 Ammo-cum Missile barges, six 25-ton bollard pull tugs and a semi-submersible pontoon by the end of 2025. Five Diving support vessels will join from 2025 as the Navy diving team took part in four salvage operations, including in Op Dover off the KG basin in Kakinada, and recovered a MIG-29K from 220 m depth off Goa in 2023.
Five 40,000 ton Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) are under construction at L&T’s yard at Kattupalli near Chennai and steel has been cut for two.
The first of three modern Survey vessels INS Sandhayak was commissioned at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in joint construction between GRSE and L&T. They will enhance the Indian Navy’s world-class capability to undertake more Hydrographic assignments, which is a part of SAGAR and soft diplomacy. Navy’s Hydrographic Office in Dehradun supplies electronic and hard copies of charts, issues NOTAM, etc.
Five Diving Support Crafts (DSC) and 2 Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) are under construction at HSL.
The 16 ASW shallow watercraft construction has begun at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) (8) and GRSE (8), and equipment choice is being completed.

The 6 Next Gen 2,000 ton Missile Vessels (NGMV) have been under construction since 2021 at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for around Rs 10, 000 crore.
The capability development plan includes the procurement of C295s built in Gujarat, a Mid-Life upgrade of Dorniers, an MIG-29K upgrade with indigenous mission computers, deck-based multi-role fighters, and 36 Maritime Utility helicopters, and a naval anti-drone system.
The Navy’s 11 Next Generation OPVs (NGOPVs) are progressing at Goa Shipyard Ltd and GRSE.
The Navy’s planners at the Weapons Design Bureau (WDB) have full hands to design and plan for seven next-gen corvettes, seven Type 17Bs, four next-gen Destroyers and five next-gen Survey ships.
With the AON by Defence Acquisition (DAC), the Navy’s planners at the Department of Ship Production (DSP) have their hands complete designing and planning for two multi-purpose vessels, 120 new interceptors, four LPDs, 12 MCMVs, and DMSAQ has plans to pursue six project 75Is that CNS mentioned.
The Indian Coast Guard (IGC) also has a healthy order book with one Cadet’s Training Ship (CTS), 14CG Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) and six CG NGOPVs all at MDL.

The Indian Navy pursues the legacy set in motion by the many illustrious officers, sailors, civilians in Dockyards, and the Ministry of Defence predecessors. The Navy remains committed to being ready for war and retains its credentials as a ‘First Responder in the Region’ (SAGAR)

Finally, no article on India’s Navy could be complete without mentioning the more significant and efficient role the women in uniform are accomplishing ashore and on ships, even in command. Two women, Lt Cdrs Dilna K and Roopa are on a voyage to circumnavigate the world on INSV Tarini. The large Naval Wives Welfare Association is truly a force multiplier, and the Navy has many schemes to support them and Navy children. Medical and social facilities at Naval stations are rated high and these contribute to the happiness co-efficient in the Navy.

In conclusion, this author can state with conviction that the Indian Navy continues to pursue the legacy set in motion by the many illustrious officers, sailors, civilians in Dockyards, and the Ministry of Defence predecessors and remains committed to being ready for war, and retain its credentials as a ‘First Responder in the Region’ (SAGAR) and become a Preferred Security Partner for like-minded nations of the world.

Sam No Varunah! May Lord Varuna be encouraging to our Navy.

The writer is a Naval Author and former DNO and DNI. His book The Indian Navy@2025: A Pictorial Journey will be released on January 15, 2025.