The Indian Navy (Hindi: भारतीय नौसेना, Bharatiya Nau Sena) is the naval branch of the Armed Forces of India. In terms of personnel, it is the world's fifth largest navy[1] and is well-armed relative to other navies worldwide. It currently operates over 180 vessels, including one aircraft carrier, making it the only Asian Navy with a full-fledged aircraft carrier and is considered one of the best navies in the world.
History of the Indian Navy
India has a maritime history dating back to around 4,500 years, since the Indus Valley Civilization. Kunjali Marakkar and Kanhoji Angre are considered as one of India's finest warriors. The British Indian Navy was established by the British while India was a colony. The British East India Company came to India in 1608.
When India became a republic on 26 January 1950, it became known as the Indian Navy, and its vessels as Indian Naval Ships (INS).
Major Conflicts
The first involvement of the Navy in any conflict came during the Liberation of Goa in 1961 with the success of Operation Vijay.
The Navy has been involved in 2 wars with Pakistan. While its activity in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 largely involved patrolling of the coast, India's navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbour in the 1971 war. The name given to the attack was Operation Trident which was launched on December 4. Owing to its success, it has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since. The attack was followed by Operation Python before the crux of the war shifted to the east.
INS Rajput was instrumental in sinking Pakistan's premier submarine PNS Ghazi which posed a significant threat in the Bay of Bengal, while INS Nirghat and Nipat sank a destroyer each and INS Veer accounted for a minesweeper. The naval aircraft, Sea Hawks and Alizés, were also instrumental in sinking many gunboats and merchant navy vessels. There was one major casualty, the frigate Khukri (sunk by Hangor) with another vessel INS Kirpan damaged in the western sector, but on the eastern front the opposing Pakistan Navy took a severe beating. The blockade of East Pakistan port with a major naval presence proved to be a vital link in the war. Ultimately it was a series of decisive operations in which the Indian Navy proved its superiority by routing the enemy.
| Type of Vessel | Indian Navy losses | Pakistan Navy losses |
| Destroyers | 0 | 2, PNS Khaibar and Shahjahan*(damaged) |
| Frigates | 1, INS Khukri** | 0 |
| Submarines | 0 | 1, PNS Ghazi |
| Minesweeper | 0 | 1, PNS Muhafiz |
| Navy Aircraft | 1, (Alize) | 0 |
| Patrol boats and Gunboats | 0 | 7 Gunboats and 3 patrol boats |
| Merchant navy and others | 0 | 11 (including one US ammunition ship) |
- *PNS Shahjahan was presumably damaged beyond repair.
- **The second frigate INS Kirpan was damaged although it remained in service later on after salvaging it.
It was also instrumental in overthrowing the coup attempt by Tamil mercenaries in Maldives by pouring troops there in 1988. The campaign led by the Indian navy was known as Operation Cactus.
In 2006 Indian Navy successfully evacuated 2280 persons including Indian, 436 Sri Lankan and 69 Nepali and 7 Lebanese citizens from war torn Lebanon. This operation is name as Operation Sukoon.[2]
Navy Personnel
Each of the three Naval Commands has a Flag Officer Commanding in Chief. The commander of the Navy is the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The current CNS is Admiral Arun Prakash. The CNS is assisted by several other high ranking officers. Below is the list of various ranks of officers within the Indian Navy in descending order:
- Admiral of the Fleet
- Admiral (the rank held by the Chief of Naval Staff)
- Vice-Admiral
- Rear-Admiral
- Commodore
- Captain
- Commander
- Lieutenant Commander
- Lieutenant
- Sub Lieutenant
Indian Navy does not have Admiral of the Fleet. Admiral, the Chief of Naval Staff is the senior most rank in Indian Navy
Strength
The total strength of the navy in 2004 stood at 55,000, including 5,000 naval aviation personnel and 2,000 marines (MARCOS).
Structure of the Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is organised into three regional commands:
- HQ Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
- HQ Western Naval Command, Mumbai
- HQ Southern Naval Command, Kochi
Another command, a joint Navy, Army and Air force command was set up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2001 as a strategic area of defence. Recently the Indian Navy received a huge boost when INS Kadamba was commissioned at Karwar, 100 Km from Goa. This is the third operational naval base after Mumbai and Vishakapatnam and the first to be controlled exclusively by the Indian navy. It is being described by naval pundits as the largest such base in the area. Called 'Project Seabird' it is a multi-billion dollar plan to create an exclusive naval port with full facilities. Another base is being planned for the eastern shores at a cost of US$ 350 million[3].
The Indian Navy is divided into the following broad categories:
- Administration
- Logistics and Material
- Training
- The Fleets
- The Naval Aviation
- The Submarine Arm
Marine Commando Force
The Marine Commando Force (MCF) known as MARCOS is a special forces unit that was raised by the Indian Navy in 1987. Modelled after the US Navy SEALs and the Royal Marines it was created to handle reconnaissance, raids and Counter-terrorism in a maritime environment. [4]
Fleet reviews
The Presidents fleet reivew took place nine times and the recent one was in the year 12 feb 2006. The President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took the review[5]. The first President's fleet review by India was hosted by Dr Rajendra Prasad on October 10 1953. The Indian navy also conducted an International fleet reivew named Bridges of Friendhip in the year 2001 in which many ships of friendly navies from all around the world participated[6][7].
Major Exercises
The Indian navy conducts naval exercises with friendly navies strengthening the bilateral relationship with other navies and nations. Some such exercises take place annually like the Exercise VARUNA with the French navy, KONKAN with Royal Navy, INDRA with Russian navy, MALABAR with the U.S Navy, SIMBEX with Singapore navy. Similar exercises will be conducted with the German navy as decided recently by India and Germany. Once in two years the world navies meet at A&N Island and the event is named as MILAN (Get together).
Weapons
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Ships
The fleet of the Indian Navy is a mix of indigenously built vessels and ships bought from foreign countries. Though the quality of Indian built ships is up to world standards, the required number of ships cannot be built by Indian shipyards since the requirement is very high. And hence foreign warships like Trishul class warships are purchased where as the Shivalik class is built in India.
Indian navy is expanding. Carrier, INS Viraat, will be retired by the end of the decade.
The names of all commissioned ships in the Indian Navy start with INS, meaning 'Indian Naval Ship'. Following are the various ship classes in the Indian Navy:
- INS Viraat (1 in service)
- Type 15/Delhi class (3 in service)
- Rajput class (5 in service)
- Talwar class (3 in service)
- Brahmaputra class (3 in service)
- Type 16 Godavari Class (3 in service)
- Nilgiri {Leander} Class (4 in service)
- Kora class (4 in service)
- Khukri class (4 in service)
- Veer (Tarantul I) Class (12 in service)
- Abhay class (4 in service)
- Magar class (2 in service)
- MK.3 Landing craft (6 in service)
- Polnochny class (5 in service)
- Nicobar class Transport Ships (2 in service)
- Sukanya class (6 in service)
- Seaward Defence Boats (6 in service)
- Trinkat Class (2 in service)
- Makar Class (3 in service)
- Bangaram Class (4 in service)
- Super Dvora Mk.II Class (7 in service)
- Pondicherry class (12 in service)
- Jyoti class (1 in service)
- Aditya class (1 in service)
- Deepak class (1 in service)
- Sandhyak class (8 in service)
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The Indian Navy currently maintains a fleet of 16 diesel powered submarines. These are primarily of Russian and German origin.
- Sindhughosh (Kilo) Class (10 in service)
- Shishumar (Type 209) Class (4 in service)
- Foxtrot class (2 in service)
India signed a deal for 6 Scorpene submarines with MESMA. These submarines would begin to join the Indian Navy from 2010-11 onwards.
Nuclear Powered Submarines
In January 1988 India leased for three years an ex-Soviet Charlie class nuclear powered guided missile submarine with eight Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) anti-shipping missile launchers. In the Indian Navy, the ship was christened INS Chakra, and the submarine was manned by an Indian crew. Upon expiration of the ship leasing term in 1991, the submarine was returned to Russia and joined the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.
India has been working since 1985 to develop an indigenously constructed nuclear-powered submarine, one that is based on the Soviet Charlie II-class design, detailed drawings of which are said to have been obtained from the Soviet Union in 1989.The secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to provide nuclear propulsion for Indian submarines has been one of the ill-managed projects of India. The 190 MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) is reported to be fitted into the the submarine's hull. The Prototype Testing Centre (PTC) at the (Indira Gandhi Centre For Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, will be used to test the submarine's turbines and propellers. A similar facility is operational at Vishakapatnam to test the main turbines and gear box.
India plans to have as many as five nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. The Indian nuclear powered attack submarine design is said to have a 4,000-ton displacement and a single-shaft nuclear power plant of Indian origin. Once the vessel is completed, it may be equipped with Danush/Sagarika cruise missiles and advanced Indian made sonar systems. However, according to some analysts the most probable missile for the Indian submarine would be the BrahMos anti-ship cruise missile. But others point out that with a 300 Km range, the BrahMos would not be adequately long ranged, for a strategic asset requiring long reach.According to defense sources the ATV program is scheduled to be launched in 2007 and to be commissioned sometime between 2008 to 2010. The other four will be delivered sometime between 2010 to 2025. Each unit will cost $1 Billion(U.S). This submarines will have a displacement of 9,000 lbs. India may lease two Akula submarines from Russia.
- BAe Sea Harrier
- Ilyushin Il-38 'May' (maritime patrol)
- Tupolev Tu-142 'Bear-F' (maritime patrol)
- Dornier Do 228
- Kamov Ka-28 'Helix'
- Kamov Ka-31 'Helix'
- Westland Sea King Mk 42
- HAL Dhruv
- HAL Chetak
- HPT-32
The National Institute of Oceanography has developed the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (Underwater Robot) that can deploy mines, launch missiles and conduct surveillance underwater. Also an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) has been developed. [8] Flatfish UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) is under development.[9]
Missiles, guns, artillery equipments
Ballistic Missile
- Prithvi-III Ballistic Missile (Dhanush)
Cruise/Anti-Ship Missile
- Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile
- 3M-54E Klub Cruise Missile
- Kh-35 Uran (SS-N-25 SwitchBlade)
- P-20 (SS-N-2D Styx)
- Sea Eagle
- Lakshya
Surface to Air Missiles
- Barak
- SA-N-12 (SA-17 Grizzly)
- SA-N-11 (SA-19 Grison)
- SA-N-7 (SA-11 Gadfly)
- SA-N-5
- SA-N-4 (OSA-M)
- SA-N-1 (S-125M)
- SA-16 (Igla MANPAD)
Torpedoes
- NSTL Advanced Light Weight Torpedo[10]
- NSTL Heavy Weight Torpedo
- Whitehead A244S anti-submarine torpedo
- APR-2 torpedo.
- SET-65E/53-65KE torpedo
- Type 53-65 passive wake homing torpedo
- TEST 71/76 anti-submarine, active & passive homing torpedo
- AEG-SUT Mod-1 wire-guided, active/passive homing torpedo
Main Guns
- A-190(E)100mm
- AK-100 100mm
- AK-176 76mm gun
- AK-76/60 76mm gun
- Twin mount gun (76mm)
- OTO Melera Rapid 76mm gun
- Mk.6 Vickers 114mm gun
- Bofors 40mm/57mm/60mm guns
- Oerlikon 20mm gun (for Patrol Boats)
Air Defence Guns
- AK-630
- AK-230
ASW Rocket Launchers
- RBU-6000
- RBU-1200
- GSh-30
Submarine-based missiles
India has a number of foreign-produced cruise missile systems in its arsenal, which includes the Klub (SS-N-27). It also has some indigenous cruise missile systems under development, including the Sagarika and Lakshya variants. The navy has got the Lakshya PTA [11]. The Sagarika (Oceanic) began development in 1994 as a submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) which will have a range of at least 300 km (a few claim 1000 km). Another successful program has been the development of the Yakhont Anti Ship Missile system into the BrahMos, by NPO and India's DRDO. The BrahMos has been tailored to Indian needs and uses a large proportion of Indian designed components and technology, for its fire control systems, Transporter erector launches, to its onboard nav-attack system.
Future plans
India started the construction of a 37,500 tonne carrier Air Defence Ship (Project 71) at a cost of 4,000 crore in April 2005 will operate 30 aircraft, including Naval LCA, MiG-29K, and Sea Harrier combat aircraft, as well as HAL Dhruv, Ka-31, and Sea King Mk.42 helicopters. The ship will be powered by four turbine engines. The carrier is being constructed by state-run Cochin Shipyard Limited.[12]
In 2004, India bought the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov for the equivalent of US $1.5 billion[13]. It will cost US$800 million to refit, and expected to join Indian Navy in 2008, while US$700 million will be spend to purchase 12 single-seat Mig-29K and 4 dual-seat Mig-29KUB, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment maintenance on Indian Navy facilities. Also, 6 Kamov-31 attack and reconnaissance anti-submarine helicopters. Upgrades include removing missiles from the carrier foredeck to make way for a 14.3-degrees ski-jump.[14] With these upgrades and inductions, it is expected by Independent analysts that the Indian Navy might soon become a Blue-water navy.[15] The Naval capacity of India already puts it as the most powerful of the Navies off the waters of the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy is going through an intense phase of expansion, modernisation and upgrading. Currently, India is constructing 3 Shivalik class frigate, 3 Kolkata class destroyer, 4 Trinkat Class Fast Patrol Vessels, 2 Super Dvora Mk.II Class Fast Patrol Vessels, 1 Magar Class Amphibious Warfare Vessel, 3 Large LST Amphibious Warfare Vessels, 8 Mine Counter-Measures Vessels and 6 Scorpène class submarine. Yantar, plant in Kaliningrad was awarded a contract to build 3 additional 1135.6 frigates costing India US$1.56 billion. The increased price is due to more sophisticated armaments such as, BrahMos Cruise Missile. The navy has also got government's approval for additional 30 warships.
According to a report published by the US Congress, Indian Navy could be among the top 3 navies in the world by 2009. In 2004, the Ministry of Defence spent US $5.7 billion in arms purchases making India the developing world's leading military buyer. A major chunk of those purchases were made for the Indian Navy. India, is currently focusing on expanding its submarine fleet. According to some very reliable defense sources India is paying 2 billion dollars for the completion of 2 Akula class submarines which were 40-60% completed; 300 Indian navy personnel being trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines. India has finalised a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them. The ordering of the six scorpene submarines is part of project 75 which calls for 24 submarines in 30 years
Future Ships
Aircraft Carriers:
- INS Vikramaditya - ex-Admiral Gorshkov (2008) (Under refit in St.Peter's Berg)
- Air Defence Ship (Project 71) (Under construction at Kochin Ship Yard)
Destroyers:
Frigates:
Corvettes:
Minesweepers:
Amphibious warfare:
- 3 Shardul class- Large Landing Ship Tank
- 1 To Purchase USS Trenton (LPD-14)
- 4 Landing Craft Mechanised[16]
Patrol crafts
Future Submarines
- Scorpene (2 in France and 4 in India by Mazagoan Docks Limited)
- The Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) submarine project is still ongoing. (5-6 units planned) These submarines will join the navy by 2010.
- According to many reliable sources it is known that one or two akula submarines will join the forces between 2006 to 2008. India signed a deal with Russia in Moscow in the end of 2005. The deal is a lease/purchase deal.
Future Aircraft
- Mikoyan MiG-29K (40-50)
- HAL Tejas
- BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 (Possibly 8 from Royal Navy)
- HAL Dhruv
- Hawk Trainer (10-15)
- Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (30)
- HAL HJT-36
- HAL HJT-39 Advanced Jet Trainer [19]
- SH-3 Sea King Helicopters (6)[20]
Retired Ships
- INS Vikrant (Decommissioned on January 31, 1997)
- INS Chakra (Type 670 Skat "Charlie class" Returned to Soviet Union in Jan 1991)
- submarine tender INS Amba (Decommissioned on July 2006)
References
- ^ Ink the India Deal Article in American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- ^ Global Security article on the Indian Navy
- ^ India's construction of aircraft carrier.
- ^ A report on India's purchase of Admiral Gorshkov.
- ^ Scorpene deal
- ^ Project Seabird
- ^ LST(L) Shardul - Landing Ship Tank — Large (LST-L)
- ^ Mine-counter Measure vessel
See also
- Middle Ground Coastal Battery
- Indian Coast Guard
- Naval ranks and insignia of India
- Project Seabird
- Kanhoji Angre - Notable Maratha Admiral based on whom INS Angre - the western naval command - is named.
- Indian Ancient Maritime History
- Kunjali Marakkar - Navy Chief of the Zamorin