Indian Navy’s Shipbuilding Push: 54 Vessels Under Construction
Largest-Ever Indigenous Programme
The Indian Navy is undertaking its biggest shipbuilding programme to date, with 54 warships under construction in Indian shipyards.
- 10 vessels are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2025.
- All 54 are slated to join the fleet by 2030.
Strategic Goals and Vision
- India aims to expand its naval strength to 200+ warships and submarines by 2035, and possibly 230 by 2037.
- The programme supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, reinforcing the Navy’s role as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
- The focus is on maritime security, capacity-building with partners, and regional cooperation.
From Buyer’s Navy to Builder’s Navy
- The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative is driving indigenisation.
- Officials emphasize that the Navy has shifted from a “Buyer’s Navy” to a “Builder’s Navy”.
- Indigenous shipbuilding generates employment across ancillary industries, boosting the defence ecosystem.
Transition Year for Naval Modernisation
- July 1, 2025 marked a transition: the commissioning of INS Tamal, a Russian-built Krivak-class frigate, the last major foreign-built warship India will induct.
- Going forward, India’s warship acquisitions will rely almost entirely on domestic production.
Indigenous Success Stories
- Recent delivery of INS Androth (second in the ASW-SWC series by GRSE, Kolkata) showcases progress in local shipbuilding.
- With 80% indigenous content, INS Androth exemplifies India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.
Strategic Significance
- Expansion is not just about numbers but about technological self-reliance and regional power projection.
- By 2035, India’s Navy is expected to be a blue-water force capable of safeguarding national interests and countering challenges from China and Pakistan.
