India boosts naval power with new submarine and warships

Recently, India's navy launched three significant naval vessels—a submarine, a destroyer, and a frigate—at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai. This development highlights India's commitment to safeguarding the Indian Ocean region, which is crucial for its trade and security due to the presence of the Chinese navy, viewed as India's main rival. The Defense Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, noted that the strategic importance of the Atlantic has shifted to the Indian Ocean, stressing the need for India to bolster its naval forces to protect its interests in this increasingly contested area. The newly launched INS Vagsheer submarine is particularly noteworthy as it represents the sixth unit in a series of French license-built Kalvari-class conventional submarines. This initiative is part of India's broader ambition to modernize its naval capabilities by replacing outdated platforms and addressing significant gaps in its underwater warfare capabilities. Enhancing its submarine fleet aligns with efforts to enhance indigenous defense manufacturing and overall maritime security. In addition, the event included remarks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who underscored the commissioning of these combatants as a major step forward towards realizing India's vision of becoming a global leader in defense manufacturing. This launch signifies a milestone not only for naval strength but also for India's growing expertise as a shipbuilding nation, particularly in collaboration with partners like the Naval Group of France. Despite the advancements, there remain challenges ahead for India’s navy, as defense analysts point to the rapidly expanding capabilities of the Chinese navy as a primary concern. To counter this, India has been incrementally increasing its naval strength, which now includes a total of 16 submarines. Recent developments also include India's first home-built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, which was commissioned in 2022, adding to its existing fleet originally acquired from Russia, aimed at defending the strategic waterways of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.