India is pursuing an ambitious long-term strategy to transform its naval force into a true blue-water navy capable of safeguarding maritime interests, projecting power across the Indian Ocean and beyond, and countering threats from China and Pakistan.

At present, the Indian Navy operates around 140 warships, which include destroyers, frigates, corvettes, amphibious ships, two nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), and 17 diesel-electric submarines—11 of which are ageing and in need of replacement.

The Navy’s aviation wing fields over 250 aircraft and helicopters, ranging from maritime patrol aircraft like the P-8I Poseidon to shipborne helicopters and carrier-based fighters.

The future goal is to field more than 200 warships and 350 aircraft by 2035, with a projection that the fleet could reach around 230 vessels by 2037. This trajectory accounts for the retirement of older vessels while also ushering in next-generation platforms to ensure India’s maritime superiority in the Indo-Pacific.

Aircraft carriers are a central pillar of India’s blue-water ambitions. India signed a ₹63,000 crore contract with France for 26 Rafale marine fighters designated for carrier operations, shoring up carrier aviation until the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) becomes operational later in the 2030s.

Simultaneously, India continues to emphasise self-reliance in the design, construction, and operation of capital ships. India already operates the indigenous INS Vikrant alongside the refurbished Russian-origin INS Vikramaditya and has initiated planning for a new 65,000-ton aircraft carrier to replace Vikramaditya in the future.

The ability to produce, maintain, and eventually replace large-deck carriers domestically underscores India’s standing as the only non-P5 country capable of indigenously designing and building both aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered ballistic submarines.

Currently, 55 warships are under construction in Indian shipyards, at an investment of nearly ₹99,500 crore. This ongoing shipbuilding program includes destroyers, frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and support ships. In addition, the Navy holds “acceptance of necessity” (AoN) clearance for another 74 warships estimated at a staggering ₹2.35 lakh crore.

Pending contracts and approvals cover critical platforms such as nine diesel-electric submarines, seven next-generation multi-role frigates (NFGs), eight advanced anti-submarine warfare corvettes, and twelve mine countermeasure vessels.

Major indigenous future programs also include the planned series of four 10,000-ton next-generation stealth destroyers and an additional aircraft carrier. This robust shipbuilding pipeline is vital not only for defence but also as an engine of industrial growth, with each shipyard job estimated to create five to six supporting jobs in supplying industries.

Spending on warships has been found to generate a multiplier effect of 1.8 on the domestic economy, reinforcing the government’s broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliance) initiative.

The Defence Ministry recently published a revised 15-year acquisition roadmap guiding navy modernisation. Among upcoming projects highlighted are four large landing platform docks of up to 29,000 tons for amphibious and expeditionary operations, five 40,000-ton fleet tankers to extend endurance at sea, and fast-expanding littoral security forces with 100 high-speed interceptor craft and 20 remotely operated interceptor boats.

Plans are also underway to field 10 nuclear-powered warships (likely attack submarines), bolstering naval deterrence and sea-denial capabilities against adversaries.

The underwater domain will also be reinforced with 20 long-endurance unmanned undersea platforms for anti-submarine warfare, supporting both traditional submarines and surface vessels in monitoring enemy activity.

On the aviation side, forces are preparing for steep technological growth with 120+ MALE drones, 15 high-altitude pseudo-satellites, and 50 unmanned systems packages (each operating three drones) for wide-area maritime surveillance and strike. Alongside these, large-scale stockpiles of advanced munitions such as 2,000 extended-range ASW rockets are projected for long-term acquisition, ensuring protection of vital sea-lanes.

The most critical shortfall for the Navy remains in the submarine fleet. At present, India fields six modern Scorpene-class boats, commissioned between 2017 and 2022, alongside four older German HDW and seven Russian Kilo-class variants.

However, the Navy has stressed that 24–30 submarines are required for effective deterrence and sustained presence across the Indian Ocean. The plan to build six more AIP-equipped submarines under Project-75(I), valued at around ₹70,000 crore and involving Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, is now a priority.

These new submarines will carry advanced land-attack cruise missiles for sea-denial and land-strike roles. Separately, the ₹32,000 crore proposal for three additional Scorpenes remains stalled, adding to the urgency of recapitalising the underwater arm.

Pakistan, meanwhile, is undergoing major capability infusion with China’s transfer of eight Hangor-class (Yuan variant) AIP-equipped submarines that will vastly extend their endurance and complicate India’s littoral operations.

Combined with Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) expansion, which has reached 370 warships and submarines and growing presence in the Indian Ocean at bases in Gwadar, Djibouti, and Ream (Cambodia), this makes accelerating India’s submarine acquisition an imperative.

Regionally, the Indian Navy is tasked with protecting an operational area spanning the Persian Gulf, Bay of Bengal, Strait of Malacca, southern Indian Ocean, and extending to Africa’s eastern seaboard. This area covers critical choke points in global energy shipping lanes and secures trade arteries through which 95% of India’s external trade by volume and 77% by value flows.

Indeed, nearly 855 million tons of Indian goods transit maritime routes annually, underscoring why safe sea lines of communication (SLOCs) form the foundation of India’s national security strategy. Countering Chinese maritime expansion and Pakistan’s growing submarine fleet is integral to this mission.

With growing carrier capacity, modern submarines, nuclear-powered platforms, next-generation destroyers and amphibious forces, and an aerospace component including advanced drones and strike aircraft, the Navy aims to robustly safeguard SLOCs while building the capability to project power to “any corner of the globe.”

The Indian Navy’s path to becoming a 200+ ship force thus balances strategic necessity, industrial development, and geopolitical rivalry.

It requires steady investment, efficient shipbuilding timelines, and parallel development of advanced aviation and undersea systems, but it positions India as a serious maritime power across the 21st century—capable not only of regional dominance but also sustained global reach.

Based On ET News Report