Introduction
The Indian Navy is the fifth largest in the world. In recent years India has undertaken a rapid modernization of its Navy in a drive to develop blue-water capabilities and increase its prowess in the Indian Ocean and beyond. This is also part of India’s efforts to attain regional and global power status. However, India’s drive to a rapid build-up of its Navy is seen as a threat by many states in the region. It has especially heightened the threat perceptions of Pakistan whose main security threat comes from India. Moreover, India is also operationalising the Naval leg of its nuclear triad which would give it a second-strike capability. This has a huge impact on the nuclear deterrence equation between the two traditional rivals.
Indian Naval Capabilities
As of 2016, the Indian Navy has a strength of 79,023 personnel and a large fleet consisting of 2 aircraft carriers, 1GAH amphibious transport dock, 9 landing ship tanks, 14 frigates, 10 destroyers, 1 nuclear powered submarine and 14 conventionally powered submarines, 25 corvettes, 7 minesweeping vessels, 47 patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers and various auxiliary vessels.
