India plans to develop a blue-water navy of over 200 ships with global reach

India is steadily building a blue water Navy capable of sim carding is maritime interest and countering regional stress the neighbors operational areas churches from the Paxton's car to the Malacca Street and from the Northern Bay a banking to the southern in the ocean reaching the east coast.

The Ministry of Commerce highlights the strategic importance of India’s seas, noting that 95% of the country’s trade by volume (855 million tons) and 77% by value moves via maritime routes. Protecting these sea lines of communication is critical for national security.

The Indian Navy aims to expand its fleet to more than 200 ships and submarines by 2035, with the possibility of reaching 230 vessels by 2037, a naval officer told TOI.

At present, the Navy operates 140 warships, including 17 diesel-electric submarines (11 of them very old) and two nuclear-powered ballistic submarines (SSBNs).Its aviation wing has over 250 aircraft and helicopters. Plans call for the fleet to grow to 200 warships and 350 aircraft and helicopters over the next decade, accounting for the retirement of aging vessels.

An aircraft and fighter aircraft.

In April, India signed a Rs 63,000 crore deal with France for 26 Rafale marine fighters to operate from aircraft carriers. Simultaneously, India is developing its own carrier-based fighter, the TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter), to enhance its indigenous capabilities.

Warship construction and approval projects

Currently, 55 warships are under construction in Indian shipyards at the course of Rs 99,500 crore. The Navy has also received her acceptance of necessary Aon for 74 additional warship valued Rs 2.35 lakh crore. Some key platform for which contracts are still pending include:

* 9 years old electric submarines

* 7 Next Generation Multi - role frigates

* Anti-submarine Warfare convettes

* 20 my countermeasure vessels

Other vessels are waiting approval include for 10,000 ton Next Generation destroyer and a new aircraft carrier to replace the oldest 40,000 tonnes INS Vikramaditya.

Long term acquisition plan

Last week, the Defence Ministry released a 15-year acquisition plan for all three houses including several platforms for the Navy. The plan allies prepare quantity and capabilities:

+ 4 landing platform docks uo to 29,000 tonnes

+ 5 fleet support ships of 40,000 tonnes each.

+ 100 next generation fast Interceptor boost up to 17 tonnes

+ 20 remotely manner fast Interceptor vessels

+ 10 nuclear - powers warships

+ 20 high endurance underwater vehicles for anti-submarine Warfare

+ 2,000 extended-range ASW rockets

+ 120 +medium - attitude -long -endurance (Male) drones

+ 15 high altitude pseudo satellites and

+ 50 remotely piloted system (each with three drones)

Indigenous capability and economic impact

A senior officers told TOI: "It is not possible to build a large naval fleet overnight as it takes years or planning and construction apart from the P5 (US, Russia, China, France and UK), India is the only country that can design, build and operate aircraft carriers and SSBNs.

Submarine deal and delays

To strenghthen its underwater combat arm, India's is negotiating for six diessel - electric submarines with AIP and land - attack cruise missiles. There are 70,000 crore deal would be executed by executed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilder in partnership with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.

Meanwhile, the Rs 32,000 crore project to construct the three additional French origin Scorpene submarines remains stalled. The Navy currently operations six Scorpene submarines with INS Vagsheer delivered in 2022, along with for German HDW and seven older Russians Kilo class submarines.