Mon Sep 22 17:19:05 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Indian Navy is currently engaged in its largest-ever shipbuilding program, with 54 vessels under construction in Indian shipyards. This initiative is crucial to India’s maritime strategy, aiming to enhance security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), counter regional challenges, and promote self-reliance in defense manufacturing under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. The Navy aims to have over 200 warships and submarines by 2035, potentially reaching 230 by 2037. The recent commissioning of INS Tamal, a Russian-built frigate, marked a transition point, as the Navy focuses on indigenous shipbuilding. The delivery of Androth, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft with over 80% indigenous content, demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in this sector.
**News Article:**
**India’s Naval Power Surges as Largest-Ever Shipbuilding Program Takes Shape**
**New Delhi – September 22, 2025** – The Indian Navy is undergoing a massive expansion, fueled by a historic shipbuilding program encompassing 54 vessels, all under construction in domestic shipyards. This ambitious undertaking is a cornerstone of India’s long-term maritime strategy, aimed at bolstering its presence and influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and addressing emerging security challenges.
“This initiative not only strengthens our national security but also reinforces our role as a ‘first responder’ and ‘preferred security partner’ in the IOR,” stated a senior naval official. The program aligns with India’s “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, emphasizing maritime security, partner capability building, and regional cooperation.
Several vessels are nearing completion, with expectations that some will be commissioned before the end of the year. The Navy aims to integrate all 54 vessels into its fleet by 2030 and further expand its capabilities to over 200 warships and submarines by 2035, with potential for reaching 230 by 2037.
The government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative is driving the indigenous shipbuilding effort, fostering self-reliance in defense manufacturing and creating significant employment opportunities across related industries. “The Indian Navy has successfully transitioned from being a ‘Buyer’s Navy’ to a ‘Builder’s Navy’,” the official noted, highlighting the increasing number of warships being constructed domestically. Up to 10 domestically built warships are expected to be commissioned by December 2025, marking a substantial addition to the naval fleet in a single phase.
This year also marks a shift towards indigenous manufacturing. The recent commissioning of INS Tamal, a stealth multi-role frigate built in Russia, was the last major warship constructed abroad. The delivery of Androth, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), further exemplifies India’s growing capabilities. Androth boasts over 80% indigenous content, signifying reduced reliance on imports and increasing self-sufficiency.
The Navy’s burgeoning shipbuilding program is a testament to India’s commitment to achieving long-term maritime self-reliance and solidifying its position as a major maritime power in the region.
First Piper 