A Decade Of Transformation

There have been many historic firsts for the Indian Navy (IN) in the period 2011-21, be it the induction of indigenously built submarines, both conventional and SSBN INS Arihant, the commissioning of INS Vikramaditya, the addition of Maritime Patrol Aircraft P-8I, and induction of many more indigenously built potent platforms. A total of forty-four warships of varying sizes and capabilities were commissioned in this period, of which thirty-seven were indigenously built. Despite fiscal constraints, the pivotal role played by the IN in the growth of domestic warship-building capabilities by effectively dovetailing with national initiatives such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat have enabled its transformation from ‘A Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘A Builder’s Navy’.

The significant growth in capabilities and the induction of cutting-edge technology required matching transformation in support facilities and human capital. The addition of new operational, maintenance and training infrastructure such as the Aircraft Carrier Dock, M15 Gas Turbine Test House, Shore-Based Test Facility, simulators, ARNAV wargaming software, the increasing thrust towards digitalization for process optimization and the shift to an ‘All BE/B-Tech’ officer cadre have been some of the significant transformation markers during this period.

The period 2011-21 also witnessed the IN platforms operating for longer periods and farther than ever before. The IN, through its mission-based deployments, has ensured sustained presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Today, the IN exercises with more countries than ever before, both in the IOR and beyond. For long, the IN, considered as the principal manifestation of India’s maritime power, has significantly scaled up its diplomatic role through training assistance, capability and capacity addition, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) assistance. Mission Sagar and Operation Samudra Setu I and II have been the IN’s highlight operations in recent years in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The capability, reach and, more fundamentally, the IN’s intent anchored in India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region through collective maritime security continues to drive the IN’s transformation to that of a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the IOR.

The title of this volume, A Decade of Transformation: Signalling Power and Partnerships, thus appropriately embodies the IN’s journey and intent in the period under review. The book captures the IN’s journey of growth and transformation against the backdrop of multiple challenges and the mitigating measures adopted in its continued evolution into a combat-ready, capable, cohesive and future-ready force.