India Needs To Step Up Shipbuilding Programmes

Going by the Indian Navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (2012-2027) which envisions a force of 200 warships and 500 aircraft to guard the Indian Ocean Region, there is work for everyone and the government should get away from the preferential model of handing out projects to PSUs, explains R CHANDRAKANTH

- R Chandrakanth

The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) of the US in a classified document has stated that India’s naval growth has slowed down due to ‘New Delhi’s determination to build its indigenous ship production capacity’. The CIA believes that this trend will continue as India searches for designs, subsystems, and technology transfer agreements for domestic production as opposed to quicker acquisitions through outright foreign purchases.

This may be true to a large extent as the Indian defence industry is just getting to a stage of doing things on its own, thanks to the enormous push given by the NDA government with its ‘Make in India’ initiative. Of the three armed forces, the Indian Navy has done fairly well in this direction, working with different defence public sector units and private entities. The CIA notes ‘We believe that aggressive acquisition and shipbuilding programmes will enhance Indian Navy’s future combat capabilities in all its mission areas.’

Securing regional position

The US has taken note of India’s moves to be a power in the region. “We believe India considers its security concerns in the Indian Ocean over the long term are as important as those with Pakistan and China. Indian officials are concerned that instability in some regional states could invite outside intervention. India has tried to counter the buildup of the US and Soviet forces in the region with diplomatic efforts, including support for the UN Indian Ocean Zone of Peace proposal, but these efforts have been largely ineffective. As a result, India is pursuing naval and other military modernisation and expansion programmes that we believe are designed to improve its ability to secure its regional position.”