Escalation by Pakistan has resulted in heightened military activity as the Indian armed forces and other security forces worked overnight
to foil all attacks from Pakistan on Indian territory.Among the increased flow of information, there has been unconfirmed news that has since been flagged that the Indian Navy
was deployed to target the Karachi port in southern Pakistan.Many unconfirmed reports claimed that India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant deployed in the Arabian Sea was involved in a potential strike, but there has been no official confirmation.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADEven an X (Twitter) account named ‘Karachi Port Trust Official’ shared contradictory information on the news by first claiming the reports were false and then alleging that there had indeed been a strike by India. Experts have since said that the account appears to have been hacked.More from Explainers
From Operation Vijay to Operation Sindoor: India’s military operations against Pakistan have evolved
India vs Pakistan in Arabian Sea: INS Tamal is coming and it’s a worry for China-tied Pak navyContradictory statements from the X account in a span of a few hours. Screenshots taken by Firstpost via X (Twitter)Sources suggest that the Indian Navy has not yet launched an offensive from the sea but remains on high alert.The Western Naval Command, operating from Mumbai, is fully mobilised and is operationally ready to safeguard India’s maritime interests and respond swiftly to any hostile action initiated by Pakistan.Meanwhile, we take a look at the formidable Indian Navy and it’s capabilities:As India recalibrates its strategic posture in a rapidly shifting Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy has emerged as a critical pillar of its military doctrine.The Navy has made visible strides over the past few years — an effort that is both a response to China’s increasing assertiveness and an assertion of India’s maritime ambitions.Editor’s Picks1Rafales, Mirages, Sukhois: The jets India used to dismantle Pakistan terror camps2India vs Pakistan military showdown: Who holds the real edge in 2025?Now boasting over 130 warships, nuclear submarines, advanced destroyers and two aircraft carriers, the Navy is positioning itself as a capable blue-water force — one that can operate far beyond its shores and contribute meaningfully to regional security.Image: Indian NavyThe current Chief of Naval Staff is Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi.The origins of the Indian Navy can be traced back to 1612, with the formation of the East India Company’s Marine. Post-independence, it transformed from a modest force tasked with coastal defence into a modern fleet capable of power projection and strategic deterrence.Although some historians also believe that many kingdoms like the Gupta dynasty in the 6th Century also touted a massive naval fleet, which traces India’s prowess at sea back thousands of years.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe Navy’s decisive role in the 1971 war, when it successfully blockaded East Pakistan and bombarded enemy positions in Karachi, remains a defining chapter in its history.Image: Indian NavyOver the decades, India’s maritime doctrine evolved in tandem with growing economic and strategic imperatives.From securing the nation’s vast 7,500 km coastline and safeguarding exclusive economic zones to acting as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, the Navy’s mandate has expanded significantly.A modern blue-water forceThe Indian Navy’s capabilities today are broad-based and steadily modernizing. Its surface fleet includes two operational aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya and the
indigenously-built INS Vikrant (tribute to 1961’s INS Vikrant), commissioned in 2022. Together, they represent India’s aspirations for power projection and maritime dominance.Indian Navy officers stand on the flight deck of India’s first home-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant after its commissioning ceremony at a state-run shipyard in Kochi, India, September 2, 2022. File Image/ReutersIn addition to carriers, the fleet includes powerful stealth destroyers like INS Visakhapatnam and INS Surat (Project 15B), advanced stealth frigates under Project 17A such as INS Nilgiri, and a host of offshore patrol vessels, amphibious ships and fast attack crafts.The submarine arm has also grown stronger. Six Scorpène-class (Kalvari-class) diesel-electric submarines, built with French collaboration under Project-75, are now in service.The last of the six — INS Vagsheer — was commissioned in January 2025, marking the successful completion of the programme’s first phase.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADMeanwhile, the second indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arighaat entered service in late 2024, reinforcing India’s second-strike nuclear capability.Naval aviation, often seen as the force multiplier in maritime operations, has witnessed major upgrades. In March 2024, the Navy inducted its first squadron of MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters — a US-supplied platform designed for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and special operations.Squadron INAS 334, based in Kochi, is now fully operational.Surveillance capabilities have been further strengthened with the induction of Drishti-10 Starliner drones, equipped with high-endurance sensors and a 36-hour flight capability. These are expected to patrol India’s vast maritime boundaries, including the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep archipelagos.TROPEX 2025The Indian Navy’s recently concluded
Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX) 2025 offered a window into its operational preparedness. The biennial exercise involved over 75 warships, 50 aircraft, and 15 submarines and was conducted across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.The exercises included aircraft carrier operations, long-range missile firings and anti-submarine warfare drills in coordination with the Indian Air Force and Army.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADImage: Indian NavyDefence analysts
described TROPEX 2025 as a clear message — not just to potential adversaries — but also to regional partners that India is serious about playing a security leadership role in the Indo-Pacific.The Indian Navy played a pivotal and historic role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. It was one of the most successful combat deployments in Indian naval history, showcasing the force’s offensive capabilities and strategic planning.One of the most dramatic early moments in the conflict came with the sinking of PNS Ghazi, a Pakistani submarine that had sailed from Karachi with the mission of targeting India’s aircraft carrier,
INS Vikrant (India’s first aircraft carrier completed in 1961).The Ghazi sank under mysterious circumstances off the coast of Visakhapatnam on the night of 3–4 December 1971, just as the war officially began.While Pakistan maintained it was due to an internal explosion, Indian accounts attribute the sinking to depth charges dropped by INS Rajput, a destroyer patrolling the area.The event removed a significant threat to the Indian Navy’s eastern operations and gave India a psychological and strategic upper hand.Image: Indian NavyOn the western front,
Operation Trident was launched on 4 December 1971, the day after hostilities began. A strike group consisting of INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer — armed with Styx missiles — attacked the Karachi harbour.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe daring nighttime assault resulted in the sinking of PNS Khyber, a destroyer, PNS Muhafiz, and two other ships, as well as damaging port facilities. This action was a landmark moment in naval warfare, as it marked the first time anti-ship missiles were successfully used in combat in the region.Following this, Operation Python was launched on the night of 8–9 December, involving another missile strike on Karachi by INS Vinash and support vessels. The operation caused further damage to Pakistani naval assets and vital oil storage tanks at the Karachi port, leading to massive fires and shortages.Karachi’s port operations were severely crippled, and the Pakistan Navy was effectively blockaded and forced to remain in harbour for the rest of the war.In the eastern theatre, the Indian Navy maintained control of the Bay of Bengal, supporting ground operations and enforcing a naval blockade around then-East Pakistan.The aircraft carrier the erstwhile INS Vikrant, along with its Sea Hawk aircraft, played a crucial role in launching air strikes on coastal targets in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, disrupting enemy supply lines and troop movements.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADTogether, these operations demonstrated the Indian Navy’s transition from a defensive coastal force to a capable blue-water navy. Its performance in the 1971 war is widely regarded as a turning point in India’s maritime history and is commemorated annually on Navy Day, December 4, marking the success of Operation Trident.Indian Navy marine commandos demonstrate their skills during Navy Day celebrations in Mumbai, India, December 4, 2024. File Image/ReutersIndia’s navy is
significantly more capable, both in size and strategic depth. With 293 vessels, including two aircraft carriers, 13 destroyers and 18 submarines, India qualifies as a blue-water navy capable of operating across global maritime zones.Pakistan’s naval fleet consists of 121 ships, with no aircraft carriers or destroyers and eight submarines. Its operational focus remains limited to the Arabian Sea, classifying it as a green-water navy primarily suited for coastal defence.Future-proofing the fleetIndia’s long-term naval roadmap is equally ambitious. According to the Ministry of Defence, the aim is to build a 175-ship Navy by 2035, up from the current fleet strength of around 135 ships.A significant component of this plan is indigenous construction. Over 60 vessels are currently being built in Indian shipyards under various projects. These include 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) and multiple missile boats under the Next Generation Corvette programme.Image: Indian NavyIndia is also developing its third aircraft carrier — INS Vishal — envisioned as a 65,000-tonne behemoth, possibly featuring a Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) system and nuclear propulsion.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADWhile detailed design discussions are ongoing, the project signifies India’s aim to field a three-carrier battle group in the coming decades.In January 2025, a German-Indian joint venture emerged as the sole qualified bidder for the much-awaited Project-75I, a ₹41,000 crore ($5 billion) programme to build six conventional submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion. The deal marks a continuation of India’s Make in India push and is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.Additionally, India signed a
€7 billion ($7.4 billion) deal with France in April 2025 to procure 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets for carrier operations, bolstering the Navy’s air wing. The Rafales will operate from INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya, replacing the ageing MiG-29K fleet.Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets fly past during the “Aero India 2021” air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 3, 2021. File Image/ReutersAnother strategic acquisition is the purchase of 220+ extended-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, with deliveries underway. These missiles, capable of striking targets over 450 km away, have become central to India’s anti-ship and land-attack doctrine.India also plans to field coastal defence batteries equipped with BrahMos under the Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (NGMMCB) programme, with deliveries expected by 2027.Maritime diplomacy & geopolitical urgency India’s maritime diplomacy is also picking up pace. In early 2025, Indonesia entered talks to acquire BrahMos missiles for its Navy, adding to a growing list of foreign interest after the Philippines signed a similar deal last year.The potential deal, which emerged during
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Delhi in January, highlights India’s growing stature in the global arms market.Meanwhile, the Indian Navy continues to participate in
multilateral exercises such as Malabar (with the US, Japan and Australia), MILAN, and VARUNA (with France).The Indo-Pacific theatre remains the Indian Navy’s principal area of focus. With China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) increasing its footprint in the region — including bases in Djibouti and
port access in Gwadar and Hambantota — India is pursuing a proactive doctrine to ensure its dominance across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).According to defence experts, India’s “collaborative deterrence” approach aims to partner with like-minded countries, improve surveillance of key chokepoints like the Malacca Strait and the Persian Gulf, and provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in regional crises.Also Watch:But challenges remain — ranging from delays in shipbuilding to undersea domain awareness and technology gaps in anti-submarine warfare. Addressing these will be key to realising the full potential of a Navy that aspires not only to defend but also to define the future of the Indo-Pacific.The Indian Navy is laying the foundation for maritime dominance in the decades ahead.Image: Indian NavyWith inputs from agenciesTagsDefenceIndiaIndia-Pakistan TensionIndian NavyEnd of Article
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India-Pakistan tensions: Why the Indian Navy is a force to reckon with
