THE INDIAN NAVY- STRENGTHS AND SHORTCOMINGS VS CHINA

While build quality of vessels is adequate and indigenisation levels impressive, the excessively long time period between laying down hulls and commissioning has to be addressed as a matter of urgency, argues SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

- SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

The Indian Navy is one of the largest in the world. It currently has 1 aircraft carrier, 1 amphibious transport dock, 8 Landing ship tanks, 10 destroyers, 13 frigates, 1 nuclear-powered attack submarine,1 Ballistic missile submarine, 14 conventionally-powered attack submarines, 22 corvettes, 10 large offshore patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers and various auxiliary vessels and small patrol boats and has a personnel strength of 10,393 officers and 56,835 other ranks.

The Indian navy, to a much greater extent than either the Indian Army or Air Force, has chosen a path of procuring indigenous designs and its strength is largely built at Indian shipyards and sustained by Indian industry.

The Chinese Navy

China on the other hand vastly outnumbers the Indian Navy in every sphere. No fewer than 75 submarines spearhead a fleet that has two fleet carriers, though one is not yet fully operational, 35 destroyers, 50 frigates and 40 corvettes. The force also has 109 missile boats and 94 submarine chasers. Compared to India’s four fleet tankers, China has twelve plus a strong force of 70 vessels assigned to amphibious operations. With 225,000 personnel, the Chinese navy now has a major extra regional capability with a naval base in Djibouti, listening stations in the Coco islands and a lease on a Sri Lankan port.