Future of the Indian Navy

Naval Ensign of India
Western fleet of Indian navy, showing some of the latest additions to the fleet

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, conventional and nuclear-powered submarines. In 2013 a senior naval official, Rear Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, outlined the Indian Navy's intention to build a 200 ship navy over a 10 year period.[1] According to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan, India has transformed from a buyer's navy to a builder's navy.[2] All 41 ships under construction are being produced indigenous in Indian ships yards, both publicly and privately owned.[3] However some projects have suffered from long delays and cost overruns.[4]

Increasing People's Liberation Army Navy interest in the Indian Ocean region[5] has led the Indian Navy to invest more in anti-submarine ships, such as the Kamorta-class corvette, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and ships such as the Saryu-class patrol vessel[6] and unmanned aerial vehicles such as the IAI Heron-1.[7] However due to the lack of a strong submarine fleet have diminished its capabilities to some extent.[8]

Submarines

Nuclear-powered

Class Picture Type No. of Boats Origin Displacement Status Note
Arihant class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) 3  India 6,000 tonnes 1 under construction
1 awaiting sea trials
1 in sea trials 		The first boat of the class, INS Arihant, is expected to be commissioned by 2016.[9] The second boat, INS Aridhaman, is being prepared for sea trails.
Arihant follow-on class Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) NA  India 2 under construction An improved version of Arihant class housing twice as many K series ballistic missiles. 2 are currently under construction.
Indigenous SSN class Attack Submarine (SSN) 6  India 6 planned A planned order of 6 boats will be constructed at the Shipbuilding Center (SBC) at Vizag. Expertise gained in the construction of the Arihant class SSBNs will be transferred to the SSN project.[10] Project clearance was granted by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2015.[11]
Akula class Attack Submarine (SSN) 1  Russia 12,770 tonnes 1 planned Negotiations underway with Russia to lease a second Akula class attack submarine.[12]

Conventional

Class Picture Type No. of Boats Origin Displacement Status Note
Kalvari-class
Attack submarine 6  India 1,565 tonnes 5 under construction
1 launched/sea trials 		Project delayed by 4 years.The first submarine is planned to be in service by 2016 and the last by 2020.[13] Option for additional 6 more submarines are available under the contract.[14]

The first Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari has been launched "to undergo extensive sea trial " on 06/04/2015.[15][16]

Project 75I-class submarine Attack submarine 6  India 6 planned As of October 2014, the Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the purchase of six submarines worth 53,000 crore from local ships yards.[17]

Midget submarines

Class Picture Type No. of Boats Origin Displacement Status Note
Strategic Operating Vessels Midget submarine 2  India 150 tonnes 2 planned Hindustan Shipyard Limited[18] will construct 2 midget submarine at a estimated cost of 2,000 crore.SOVs will be used by MARCOS for conducting special operations.[17]

Ships

Aircraft Carriers

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
INS Vikrant Aircraft carrier 1  India 40,000 tonnes 1 under construction Sea trials expected to commence in 2016. INS Vikrant is planned to join the Eastern Naval Command in 2018.[19]
INS Vishal Aircraft carrier 1  India 65,000 tonnes 1 planned INS Vishal is likely to be nuclear-powered with a CATOBAR system to launch aircraft. The ships air-wing is expected to consist of; HAL Tejas, UCAVs and AEW aircraft.

Amphibious warfare ships

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Multi-Role Support Vessel Landing helicopter dock 4  India 21,000 to 27,000 tonnes 4 planned Only Indian shipyards partnered with an international shipyard can participate in the programme. The Indian Navy is yet to select a design which meets its specification.[20]

Destroyers and frigates

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Kolkata class Stealth guided missile destroyer 3  India 7,500 tonnes 1 under construction
1 in sea trials
1 commissioned 		The first ship, INS Kolkata (D63), was commissioned in 2014. The remaining 2 ships, INS Kochi and INS Chennai, will enter in service by 2016.[21]
Visakhapatnam class Stealth guided missile destroyer 4  India 8,000 tonnes 2 under construction
2 planned 		Follow on of the Kolkata class with improved stealth features.
Project 17A-class frigate Stealth guided missile frigate 7  India 6,000 tonnes 7 planned 4 ships will be constructed by Mazagon Dock while the remaining 3 by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers.

Corvettes

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Kamorta class Corvette (ASW) 4 (+8)  India 3,400 tonnes 2 under construction
1 in sea trials
1 commissioned
(8 follow-on vessels planned) 		Short-range SAMs, towed array sonars and anti-submarine helicopters are currently not available for the class.[22] A further 8 Kamorta class corvettes (Project 28A) are planned.
ASW Shallow Water Craft Corvette (ASW) 16  India 700 tonnes 16 planned The Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a tender under the “Buy and Make India” category to local shipyards like ABG Shipyard, Larsen & Toubro,Pipavav Defense, Offshore Engineering and other state owned shipyards.[23]
Next Generation Missile Vessels Corvette (ASuW) 6  India 6 planned In January 2015, the Ministry of Defence issued Reguest For Information (RFI) a for 6 next-gen missile vessels under the "Buy Indian and Make Indian" category.[24] The vessels will feature low RCS, magnetic and IR signatures.[25]

Mine countermeasure vessels

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Future Indian minehunter class Minesweeper 12  India 12 planned In February 2015, the Ministry of Defence approved the building of 12 minesweepers at a cost of 32,000 crore in goa shipyard Ltd.[26]

Patrol vessels

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Saryu-class Offshore patrol vessel 9  India 2,300 tonnes 5 under construction
4 commissioned		 As of 2015, 4 are in service and 5 more are under construction.

Replenishment ships

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Replenishment oiler 5  India 40,000 tonnes 5 planned The Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley, cleared the purchase of 5 ships at a cost of 9,000 crore. All Indian private and public sector shipyards are allowed to participate.

Survey vessels

Class Picture Type No. of Ships Origin Displacement Status Note
Makar class Survey vessel 6  India 500 tonnes 5 under construction
1 commissioned 		The class is also capable of limited search and rescue missions.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Why India’s ‘Blue Water’ Ambitions Matter".
  2. ↑ "Indian Navy has transformed from buyer to builder: Naval Chief". September 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Govt's decision on subs a boost for private shipyards". October 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Delays force Navy to drop demand for foreign submarines".
  5. ↑ "Experts see several implications to Chinese submarine’s visit to Colombo".
  6. ↑ "Indian Navy receives fourth Saryu-class OPV". 24 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "India’s Growing Unmanned Naval Fleet".
  8. ↑ "A powerful surface navy lacks sub punch".
  9. ↑ "India building its first home-made nuclear submarine: report".
  10. ↑ "Move to fast-track two submarine projects gathers steam".
  11. ↑ "Government clears construction of 7 stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines". The Economic Times. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "India to Lease a Second Nuclear Submarine From Russia". Dec 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Defence minister Arun Jaitley reviews delayed Scorpene submarine project".
  14. ↑ "India would order 6 more scorpene class submarine". 9 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Indian Navy's first Scorpene submarine launched for sea trials".
  16. ↑ "India's First Scorpene Submarine Kalvari Undocked: A Major Milestone for Project 75". 7 April 2015.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "6 Made-in-India Submarines for Navy for 53,000 Crores". 25 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "HSL to build two midget submarines".
  19. ↑ "India launches first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant".
  20. ↑ "Indian Navy launches Request For Proposal for 4 amphibious vessels (LHD type)".
  21. ↑ "Kolkata commissioned, focus shifts to P15 Bravo".
  22. ↑ "India inducts first locally built ASW corvette".
  23. ↑ "India Proposes $2.25B Tender for ASW Shallow Water Craft".
  24. ↑ "Indian Navy puts out RfI for next-gen missile vessel".
  25. ↑ "REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 06 NEXT GENERATION MISSILE VESSELS (NGMVs) FOR INDIAN NAVY".
  26. ↑ "GSL gets defence ministry’s nod to build 12 minesweepers".