The Indian Navy has significantly enhanced its surveillance architecture, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare capability, underwater surveillance, long-range maritime reconnaissance, network-centric operations across sensors and shooters, and integrated operational response capability, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.
In an interview to news agency PTI, he said the capability enhancements by the Navy are not aimed at any specific nation, but rather at ensuring the absolute security of India's maritime interests.
He noted that the Navy is fully aware that the Indian Ocean Region is witnessing increasing strategic contestation and greater extra-regional presence, moving us from an 'era of cooperation' into an 'era of intense competition'.
"As a professional maritime force, the Indian Navy monitors all regional developments very closely, and our approach remains strictly capability-based and threat-informed."
He added, "Our efforts are not aimed at any specific nation, but rather at ensuring the absolute security of India's maritime interests and contributing to a stable, free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The Navy's answer to any complex or two-front challenge is credible deterrence backed by capability."
The Navy chief said the Navy is continuously evaluating niche technologies to provide an asymmetric advantage and ensure that every capability acquired contributes to operational advantage and decision superiority.
"I am extremely confident in our current combat capabilities, and our ongoing capability accretion plans, including the P-75(I) submarine programme and expanding to a 200-plus ship Navy, ensuring we are fully committed to maintaining our combat edge and safeguarding India's national maritime interests under all circumstances," Admiral Tripathi said.
Under Project 75 India (P75-I), the Indian Navy is acquiring six stealth submarines.
