THE NAVY'S NEED FOR SUBMARINES

While aircraft carriers have their place, submarines provide India with a more flexible, cost-effective, and survivable option for projecting power and maintaining deterrence in a complex and evolving strategic environment, argues AMIT GUPTA

- AMIT GUPTA

Aircraft carriers are an awesome sight, especially when launching aircraft. Admirals around the world have recognised the public relations and budgetary implications of this and make sure that their political masters get to see this spectacle since it helps the force development arguments of the maritime service. On the other hand, submarines make for poor public relations. You cannot make a convincing case for augmenting a naval force by telling a politician that there is submarine patrolling underwater in the Arabian Sea. Yet, as modern warfare changes, the need for submarines becomes critical for any modern navy. Added to that is the fact that India's maritime doctrine and threats come with a set of constraints that are unique to the country.

Indian Maritime Doctrine and Challenges

India's maritime doctrine requires projecting power as far down as the Cape of Good Hope in the western Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca in the east. The rationale for carrying out operations as far as the Cape of Good Hope is not based on India having imperial ambitions or seeking to engage in expeditionary operations. Instead, it is because, in the past, the navies of the South and East African nations had close ties with India and requested assistance for operations ranging from anti-piracy measures to maintaining maritime security along the Mozambique coast when the African Union meeting was held there in 2003. Thus, India has used its surface fleet very effectively when in unison with other navies of the region and received considerable credit for this. But having a large carrier fleet is another matter.