Future of the Indian Navy


The Indian Navy has been focusing on developing indigenous platforms, systems, sensors and weapons as part of the nation's modernisation and expansion of its maritime forces. As of 2014 the Indian Navy has 41 vessels of various types under construction, including an aircraft carrier; destroyers; frigates; corvettes; and conventional-powered and nuclear-powered submarines. In 2013 a senior naval official outlined the Indian Navy's intention to build a 200 ship navy over a 10-year period. According to Chief of Naval Staff's statement in September 2014, India has transformed from a buyer's navy to a builder's navy. All 41 ships under construction are being produced in Indian shipyards, both publicly and privately owned. However some projects have suffered from long delays and cost overruns.
Increasing Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy interest in the Indian Ocean region has led the Indian Navy to invest more in anti-submarine ships, such as the Kamorta-class corvette, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft such as P-8I Neptune and ships such as the Saryu-class patrol vessel and unmanned aerial vehicles such as the IAI Heron-1. However the lack of a strong submarine fleet has diminished its capabilities to some extent.
Post-Chinese intrusions into Ladakh in 2020, it has been announced that the Indian Navy plans to upgrade the military facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the eastern seaboard as well as Lakshadweep on the western seaboard, with the aim of having a network of island airbases in both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal which provides an infrastructure which will guarantee freedom of navigation and overflight to all Indian territories.

Submarines

Nuclear Submarine

Conventional

Midget submarines

Ships

Aircraft carriers

Amphibious warfare ships

Destroyers

Frigates

Corvettes

Mine countermeasure vessels

Patrol vessels

Utility and special mission ships

Replenishment ships

Survey vessels

Miscellaneous

Aircraft

TypePictureRoleNo. of airframesOriginStatusNote
Twin-engine deck-based fighter TEDBF / Omni role combat aircraft ORCACarrier Borne Multi-role FighterUnspecifiedUnder developmentThe design of the Omni Role Combat Aircraft, an Air Force variant of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter, with significant design differences, was being studied as of 2020. The first flight of the TEDBF is targeted for 2025-26 with the fighter expected to be inducted into the Navy by 2031.
Multi-Role Carrier Borne FightersCarrier Borne Multi-role Fighter36PlannedIn late January 2017, the Indian Navy released an international Request for Information for 57 "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters". The main contest is between Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Dassault Rafale-M
Number revised to 36 from 57 in mid 2020.
Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance AircraftReconnaissance and SAR missions6 to 9PlannedThe Indian Navy issued an RFP for six medium-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The possible contenders are; the ATR-72MP/ATR-42MP, the EADS C-295MPA/C-235MPA, the Dassault Falcon 900MPA and the Embraer P-99A. The procurement number was increased to nine as per news reports in February 2012.
Boeing P-8I NeptuneReconnaissance, ASW, ASuW128 in service
4 ordered
10 planned		Four ordered in 2016 at a cost of US$1.1 billion, ten more planned to be procured at a cost of US$3 billion.
ShinMaywa US-2Air-sea rescue 12PlannedIndian navy intends to acquire 12 US-2 amphibian aircraft for conducting long-range search-and-rescue operations at cost of $1.65 billion. Two US-2s will be directly imported and remaining ten will be assembled locally in India.
Sikorsky MH-60RMulti-Role Helicopter2424 on orderThe helicopters will replace the ageing Sea King helicopters.They will be equipped with anti-submarine Mark 54 torpedoes and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, along with precision-kill rockets. A contract for 24 helicopters was signed on US president Donald Trump's visit to India.
Grumman E-2 HawkeyeAirborne Early Warning 4 to 6 plannedplannedThe U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman briefed the Indian Navy on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye on its potential use to satisfy its current shore-based and future carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Control requirements. The Indian Navy has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring up to six Hawkeyes.
Kamov Ka-31Airborne early warning and control10In service already with INAS339- The Falcons since 2003. More planned.Ministry of Defence has approved purchase of 10 helicopters for $500 million.
Naval Multi-Role HelicopterMulti-Role Helicopter123PlannedTo replace Westland Sea King helicopters.
Naval Utility HelicopterUtility helicopter111PlannedTo replace HAL Chetak helicopters.