Wed Feb 12 10:31:15 UTC 2025: ## Indian Navy Calls for Domestic Industry Collaboration to Boost Naval Aviation
**Bengaluru, February 12, 2025** – Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi urged the Indian domestic defense industry to partner with the Navy to develop indigenous solutions for naval aviation, highlighting a surge in capabilities in the maritime air domain. Speaking at a seminar on “Transition to Atmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation 2047” at Aero India in Bengaluru, Admiral Tripathi emphasized the significant growth opportunities presented by this expansion.
Admiral Tripathi stated that the Indian Navy is committed to fostering a supportive ecosystem for indigenous capability development, describing the current environment as a “catapult to billion opportunities.” He stressed that the Navy seeks partnerships, not just products, and collaborations, not just companies, to achieve a decisive war-fighting advantage through self-reliance (Atmanirbharta).
He cited the government’s vision, the Ministry of Defence’s policies, and the Navy’s roadmap as key drivers for the growth of the domestic defense sector. He noted that indigenous defense production has exceeded ₹1.25 lakh crore (US$15 billion), with 20% contributed by the private sector, and defense exports have reached ₹21,000 crore (US$2.5 billion), with 60% from the private sector. Government targets for 2029 include ₹3 lakh crore (US$36 billion) in indigenous production and ₹50,000 crore (US$6 billion) in exports.
Admiral Tripathi outlined three key considerations for the industry: adapting to the unique challenges of the naval air domain, reducing development timelines in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, and integrating capabilities into the broader war-fighting ecosystem. He pointed to the unprecedented democratization of air capabilities, with commercially available systems now enabling even non-state actors to deploy sophisticated aerial platforms at sea. The Admiral highlighted the expansion of capabilities beyond traditional roles to include communication relays, unmanned refueling, and jamming platforms. This rapid advancement necessitates a strong domestic defense industry to maintain India’s strategic advantage.
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