The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces, responsible for safeguarding India’s 7,516‑kilometre coastline and protecting its maritime trade routes. Established in 1947, it now operates more than 70 commissioned ships, submarines and aircraft, making it the fourth largest navy in the world by tonnage.
The Indian Navy’s core missions include sea‑control, power‑projection, humanitarian assistance, and maritime diplomacy. It conducts anti‑piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, provides disaster relief after cyclones, and supports joint exercises with friendly navies to enhance interoperability.
As of March 2024, the Indian Navy employs roughly 150,000 personnel, including 45,000 officers and 105,000 sailors. Its active fleet comprises 67 warships, 7 aircraft carriers, 14 submarines, and over 100 aircraft, supported by auxiliary vessels and coastal patrol boats.
The table below summarises the main combat and support platforms in service.
| Type | Number (2024) |
|---|---|
| Aircraft carriers | 7 |
| Destroyers | 12 |
| Frigates | 16 |
| Corvettes | 24 |
| Submarines (incl. nuclear) | 14 |
| Patrol vessels | 30 |
| Amphibious ships | 5 |
| Support vessels | 20 |
The navy traces its origins to the Royal Indian Navy formed on 1 October 1934 under British rule. After India’s independence on 15 August 1947, it was renamed the Indian Navy on 26 January 1950 and has since expanded from a modest coastal force to a blue‑water navy with nuclear capabilities.
Major events that shaped the service include:
The Indian Navy’s most visible power‑projection tools are its aircraft carriers, submarines and missile‑armed surface combatants. These platforms enable the force to conduct strike missions, anti‑submarine warfare, and sustained presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India currently operates two carriers. INS Vikramaditya, a modified Kiev‑class ship purchased from Russia, entered service in 2013 and can launch up to 30 MiG‑29K fighters. INS Vikrant, launched in 2020 and commissioned in September 2022, is the first fully indigenously built carrier, supporting 30–32 aircraft and featuring a ski‑jump for STOBAR operations.
The submarine fleet consists of 14 boats, including three nuclear‑powered attack submarines (INS Arihant, INS Arighat, INS Vela) and eleven conventional diesel‑electric boats. The nuclear fleet provides strategic deterrence, while the conventional submarines are equipped with heavyweight torpedoes and the Club‑S anti‑ship missile.
By patrolling the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the wider Indian Ocean, the navy deters piracy, safeguards sea‑lines of communication (SLOCs) that carry over 80 % of India’s trade, and participates in multinational exercises such as Malabar, AUSMIN and IISS‑led forums. Its humanitarian missions have delivered relief after the 2004 tsunami and the 2020 cyclones in Odisha.
The navy’s 2030 vision aims to achieve a ‘blue‑water’ capability with three aircraft carriers, a fleet of 75 surface combatants and 30 submarines, including six nuclear‑powered units. Ongoing projects include the construction of the indigenous carrier‑class ‘Project 75I’, the acquisition of 8 new stealth frigates (Project 18), and the induction of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles for surveillance.
Key programmes slated for delivery by 2030 are:
The Indian Navy regularly trains with the United States, Japan, France and Australia through joint exercises such as Malabar, Varuna and INDRA. It also participates in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and contributes ships to UN peacekeeping missions, notably off the coast of Somalia (UNOSOM) and in the Gulf of Aden. These partnerships enhance interoperability, share anti‑piracy intelligence and promote a free and open Indo‑Pacific.
The navy is divided into three operational fleets – Western, Eastern and Southern – each commanded by a Vice Admiral. A separate command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, handles joint tri‑service operations in the strategic archipelago. Training and doctrine are overseen by the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala and the Naval War College in Goa. Support functions such as logistics, engineering and medical services fall under the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi.
Since independence, the navy has taken part in several high‑profile missions: Operation Cactus (1988) rescued the Maldives from a coup, Operation Rahat (2013) evacuated civilians from Yemen, and anti‑piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden that have rescued over 1,500 merchant vessels. These actions demonstrate the force’s ability to project power and provide humanitarian assistance far beyond India’s shores.
The service is investing in network‑centric warfare, artificial‑intelligence‑driven decision support, and autonomous platforms. The Navy’s Project Navy 2000 includes plans for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for mine counter‑measures, underwater drones for reconnaissance, and a cloud‑based combat management system to integrate data from satellites, aircraft and ships. Trials of laser‑guided missiles and directed‑energy weapons are also underway, aiming to boost defensive capability against swarming threats.
The Indian Navy traces its roots to the Royal Indian Navy founded on 1 October 1934, and was officially renamed the Indian Navy on 26 January 1950 after independence.
INS Vikramaditya is a refurbished Russian‑built Kiev‑class carrier commissioned in 2013, while INS Vikrant is India’s first fully indigenously built carrier, commissioned in 2022 with a ski‑jump for STOBAR operations.
India operates three nuclear‑powered attack submarines – INS Arihant, INS Arighat and INS Vela – forming the core of its sea‑based strategic deterrent.
Project 75I is a major procurement programme to build five advanced conventional submarines equipped with air‑independent propulsion, slated for delivery in the late 2020s to expand India’s under‑sea fleet.
Key takeaways:A formal decision confirmed that Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is set to dress…
Key takeaways:Arafat Minhas scored a match-turning 61 as Fakhar Zaman’s 127 helped Pakistan defeat Sri…
Key takeaways:Cricinfo reported that Saad Baig scored his maiden ODI fifty; the runs total, opposition,…
Key takeaways:Fakhar Zaman scored 127 runs against Sri Lanka in the final of the 2026…
Key takeaways:Sky Sports reported the match ended Chelsea 2-0 Man Utd, with a full recap…
Key takeaways:Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando was fined 25 percent of his match fee…