Indian Navy adapts to changing waters and expanding global role in 2024
Mohammad Asif Khan
Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar has outlined a vision for the Indian Navy in 2024 and beyond, emphasising modernisation, self-reliance, strategic partnerships and a renewed focus on the civilian workforce.
Following Chinese incursions into Ladakh in 2020, plans have been announced to enhance military infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the eastern seaboard, as well as in Lakshadweep on the western seaboard. This includes the development of island airbases in both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The aim is to establish a network of bases that ensures freedom of navigation and overflight for all Indian territories, bolstering India’s strategic position in the region.
Naval bases and Exercises
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically located at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Upgrading the military facilities here will enhance India’s ability to monitor and control the crucial Six-Degree Channel. The new naval base on the Minicoy island of Lakshadweep, named INS Jatayu, is a strategic initiative by the Indian Navy. This base will not only enhance India’s maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean but also improve interoperability by providing a platform for joint operations with friendly nations. It will also serve as a crucial point for surveillance and monitoring of the sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) in the Arabian Sea.
In 2024, the Indian Navy participated in some exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability and understanding between participating navies. One of these was the 12th edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise MILAN 24 held in Vishakhapatnam in February 2024. This exercise involved advanced Air Defence, Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare drills. The aim of MILAN 2024 was to strengthen regional cooperation and maritime security, foster interoperability and understanding between participating navies, and provide a platform for sharing best practices and expertise. Nearly 20 ships from the Indian Navy, including aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, and nearly 50 aircraft including MiG29K, LCA, Tejas and P8I participated in the exercise.
Another significant event was Exercise Sea Dragon 24, which aimed to foster enhanced cooperation and seamless interoperability among naval forces from the United States (US), Australia, South Korea, Japan and India. Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft, along with P8A of the US and Australia, P1 from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and P3C from the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN), participated in the exercise.
Maritime Theatre Commands
The Inter-Services Organisation (ISO) Bill and the creation of theatre commands are expected to bring about significant changes in the functioning of the Indian Navy. The establishment of an Integrated Maritime Theatre Command, as part of the theatre commands initiative, can be particularly beneficial for the Navy. This Maritime Theatre Command (MTC) will be responsible for managing India’s vast maritime border. This means that the Navy will have a more focused area of responsibility, allowing it to better strategise and respond to maritime threats.
The integration of the Navy with the other services under one commander will also lead to improved coordination and efficiency. Based on the information in the public domain, within the MTC the consolidation of air force and army components with naval resources will significantly enhance operational effectiveness. MTC will be overseen by a Vice Admiral and will encompass the current Eastern and Western Naval Commands, a reduced Andaman and Nicobar Command, the Southern Air Command and two army brigades with amphibious capabilities. Additionally, it will include two squadrons of maritime strike aircraft from the Air Force.
The ISI Bill provides a legal framework for these integrated theatre commands. It empowers the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the Inter-services Organisations (ISOs) to exercise disciplinary and administrative powers over the personnel belonging to another service. This will ensure effective discipline and expeditious disposal of cases in inter-service establishments which will include naval personnel serving in these ISOs.
Furthermore, the integration of the armed forces aims to build an integrated war-fighting machinery cost-effectively. This could lead to more efficient allocation and utilisation of naval assets, thereby enhancing the operational readiness and combat capabilities of the Indian Navy.
In addition, a group of officers from the Navy have been ‘cross-posted’ to other services. This cross-staffing initiative is aimed at fostering collaboration and a sense of working together among the army, navy and air force. This will help in building a better understanding of the operational dynamics of the other services among the naval officers, thereby improving inter-service cooperation.
Indigenous Armament
The indigenisation process, as outlined by Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar for the Indian Navy, underscores the Indian Navy’s emphasis on self-reliance and technological advancement. Several indigenous projects are already underway, aimed at bolstering the Indian Navy's capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
“By 2047, we will have a complete indigenous Navy, whether it is ships, submarines, aircraft, unmanned systems, weapons and the entire complex. We will be a completely ‘Aatmanirbhar’ Navy,” the Admiral said. The Indian Navy Indigenisation Plan (INIP) 2015-2030 serves as a roadmap for the indigenous development of systems and equipment. As of 2023, the Navy has indigenised around 3,400 items, including over 2,000 machinery and electrical spares, over 1,000 aviation spares and over 250 weapon spares.
In December 2023, the Indian Navy released a document titled Swavlamban 2.0 which underlines the Navy’s indigenisation efforts, guiding stakeholders towards achieving self-reliance in various defence technologies and equipment.
Commissioning of INS Vikrant
INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. It was commissioned in Kochi on 2 September 2022. The project cost approximately USD 3.2 billion in 2023 at the time of the first sea trials. Also known as IAC-1 it is the seventh-largest global carrier. It will be based in Visakhapatnam, in Eastern Naval Command. In tandem with the carrier project, efforts are underway to equip the INS Vikrant with advanced indigenous defence systems. The LR-SAM (Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile) system, developed jointly by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Israel's IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries), is designed to safeguard the carrier and its fleet against aerial threats.
Furthermore, the integration of the MF-STAR (Multi-Function Active Phased Array Radar) on the INS Vikrant underscores India’s prowess in radar technology. Manufactured by IAI, this versatile radar system provides comprehensive surveillance and target-tracking capabilities, enhancing the carrier’s situational awareness and defensive posture.
Complementing these systems is the Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite, developed by DRDO. Engineered to detect and neutralise electronic threats, the Shakti EW Suite enhances the INS Vikrant’s survivability in modern combat scenarios.
Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
The proposed construction of a second domestically built aircraft carrier signifies India's strategic intent to establish a robust naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region, particularly in response to China's growing influence. However, this ambitious project, estimated to cost around INR 40,000 crore, faces several challenges. In November 2023, the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) approved the second indigenous aircraft carrier in India. The carrier is known as the Indian Aircraft Carrier-II, or IAC-II, and will be similar to the INS Vikrant.
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