As geopolitical currents shift in the Indo-Pacific, India is adopting an assertive maritime posture to safeguard its interests in a region fraught with strategic competition. The Indian Navy’s recent expansions, defence partnerships, and capability enhancements highlight the nation’s ambition to become a formidable maritime power, extending its influence across the Indian Ocean and into polar regions. With increasing pressure from regional adversaries such as China and Pakistan, India is bolstering its naval and maritime security strategy to project power and fortify its defences against a backdrop of escalating tensions.
One prominent signal of India’s expanding naval capabilities is the imminent induction of INS Tushil, a guided-missile warship, slated to join the Indian Navy’s fleet by December. The vessel, one of two Grigorovich-class frigates to be acquired from Russia under a 2018 defence deal, represents a vital addition to India’s naval assets. These warships, armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, bring advanced weaponry that significantly enhances India’s maritime deterrence in the region.
The integration of these warships enhances the Indian Navy’s capabilities at a time when India faces persistent security challenges along its borders with China and Pakistan. While the Indian Army primarily handles operations at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC), the Navy supports national security through increased vigilance and presence in the Indian Ocean Region. This strengthened maritime posture helps deter potential threats and counterbalance adversarial activities, complementing India’s overall defence strategy across multiple domains.
India’s Growing Defence Exports: Akash Missile System for Armenia and Beyond
Indian Army inducts 550 ‘Asmi’ machine pistols into Northern Command: A leap towards self-reliance
New Hero 250 cc teased: Is it the new Xtreme 250?
New Maruti Suzuki Dzire mileage figures revealed
Beyond National Borders: India’s Expanding Naval Diplomacy
The decision to acquire state-of-the-art warships from Russia, coupled with a broader strategic cooperation, illustrates India’s efforts to recalibrate its defence partnerships in a shifting global order. Recent years have seen India leverage its long-standing ties with Russia, extending into Arctic interests with a contract to build non-nuclear icebreaker ships for Russia’s Arctic ambitions. This collaboration serves dual purposes: enhancing India’s shipbuilding capabilities and deepening its influence in polar regions where resource competition and strategic military interests are mounting.
These moves reflect India’s commitment to assert its maritime presence beyond immediate regional borders, echoing its broader aim of positioning itself as a stabilising force in global maritime security. The country’s growing involvement in the Arctic, a region traditionally dominated by Russia and the United States, aligns with India’s vision to secure strategic sea lanes that are becoming increasingly accessible due to melting ice caps. The collaboration with Russia on icebreaker development not only strengthens maritime ties between the two nations but also spotlight India’s aspirations to diversify its naval capabilities to serve both national and multilateral interests.
The Strategic Blueprint: A Pathway to Self-Reliance
While India’s defence partnerships emphasise the role of international collaboration in bolstering its navy, the country is equally focused on domestic capability-building, an effort enshrined in its Maritime Vision 2030. The recent acquisition of the Russian-built Grigorovich-class frigates includes a technology transfer agreement allowing India to build two additional warships domestically at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). This is a strategic effort by India to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, support domestic shipbuilding, and foster self-reliance in high-value defence manufacturing.
These ambitions are aligned with India’s overarching Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which envisions the country’s transformation into a top-five global shipbuilding hub by mid-century. Although India currently accounts for less than 1 per cent of the global shipbuilding market, new infrastructure investments and government policies supporting public-private partnerships aim to change this trajectory. Plans for constructing multiple shipbuilding clusters along India’s coast are intended to expand production capabilities, positioning India as a key player in both commercial and military vessel construction.
Fortifying the Indo-Pacific: Responding to a Shifting Security Landscape
India’s expanded maritime strategy is a response to the region’s evolving security environment, notably the presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indian Ocean. China’s polar ambitions, marked by Arctic research investments and the development of nuclear-powered icebreakers, have been met with concern by Indian defence strategists who view these moves as a means of advancing Chinese territorial ambitions. With its acquisition of BrahMos-equipped frigates and planned indigenous production of additional warships, India aims to counterbalance China’s growing maritime influence.
In line with its Indo-Pacific security goals, India has actively engaged with like-minded nations such as the United States, Japan, and Australia in security dialogues and military exercises to foster a resilient regional security network. The Indian Navy’s presence in joint exercises such as Malabar shows a proactive commitment to regional stability, especially as these exercises expand to encompass new areas like humanitarian assistance, anti-submarine warfare, and information-sharing.
Strategic Hurdles and the Road Ahead
Despite progress, India’s path to maritime dominance is fraught with challenges. The defence modernisation process requires significant resources, technological expertise, and time—factors that are occasionally at odds with the country’s growing demand for immediate capability expansion. India’s current share of global shipbuilding output is limited compared to established players like China, Japan, and South Korea, who together dominate 85 per cent of the market. Scaling up production to meet international standards necessitates not only capital investment but also human capital and infrastructure enhancements.
Furthermore, India faces the delicate balancing act of nurturing its alliance with Russia while strengthening strategic partnerships with Western countries. The partnership with Russia, though historically significant, faces new strains in light of Russia’s geopolitical realignments. Simultaneously, defence collaborations with the United States and other Quad members reflect India’s commitment to a multipolar Indo-Pacific, where the need for cohesion among like-minded nations has never been greater.
India’s Maritime Future in a Multipolar World
India’s recent defence acquisitions and partnerships signal a deep-seated shift towards a more assertive and diversified maritime strategy. As the first of the Grigorovich-class frigates joins the Indian Navy and icebreaker production with Russia advances, India is positioning itself to take on a more prominent role in regional and global maritime security. Through domestic capability-building and strategic partnerships, India aims to secure its interests in the Indian Ocean and extend its reach into emerging theatres like the Arctic.
The coming years will be crucial in determining India’s trajectory as a maritime power. With a vision rooted in self-reliance and a strategy shaped by regional dynamics, India is strengthening its naval assets to adapt to an increasingly complex security environment. As great power competition intensifies, India’s evolving maritime doctrine underscores its resolve to safeguard its strategic interests, projecting power in a multipolar world where control of the seas will be paramount.