India pushes for 200-ship navy with indigenous warships to counter China, Pakistan
India commissions a new warship every six weeks, aiming for 200 vessels by 2030
India is accelerating its naval expansion with a goal of surpassing 200 ships within ten years, responding to China's growing fleet and Pakistan's acquisition of advanced Chinese submarines. This month's commissioning of the stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri and the submarine hunter INS Malvan underscores the effort. Both warships are designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, with 75% indigenous content—embodying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's atmanirbharta (self-reliance) policy. A new warship enters service approximately every six weeks, reflecting the urgency.
India's current navy numbers about 150 vessels, with around 135 classified as frontline combatants including frigates, destroyers, and submarines. Roughly 50 more are under construction, with the Nilgiri-class frigate line nearly complete (INS Mahendragiri is the sixth, and the seventh, Vindhyagiri, will follow within months). Seven to eight next-generation warships under Project-17 Bravo are already queued up. Analysts view this pace as a strategic necessity to counterbalance China's dominance in the Indian Ocean and Pakistan's growing submarine force, while simultaneously reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for critical military hardware.
- India aims to expand its navy to over 200 ships within a decade, up from the current ~150 vessels.
- INS Mahendragiri (stealth frigate) and INS Malvan (submarine hunter) are domestically built with 75% indigenous content.
- Roughly 50 warships are under construction, with a new vessel commissioned every six weeks on average.
Why It Matters
India's rapid naval buildup shifts regional power dynamics and strengthens its ability to secure critical sea lanes.