Chennai, February 27 The Indian Navy aims to transform into a maritime force with over 200 ships by 2035 and plans to induct 15 additional vessels in 2026, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said here on Friday.
Speaking after commissioning the INS Anjadip at the Chennai Port, he said the Navy's long-term vision is to achieve complete self-reliance in shipbuilding at the component level and evolve into a fully self-reliant force by 2047.
"The Navy's operational reach extends across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, with naval units consistently deployed for surveillance, anti-piracy, and coordinated patrols, reflecting sustained reach and credible operational depth," he said.
Noting that the concept of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) has progressed from "Make in India" to "Trust in India", he said, "We have embraced Atmanirbharta not only as a strategic imperative but also as an investment towards future security."
Highlighting the ongoing shipbuilding efforts, Admiral Tripathi said that all 50 ships currently under order are being built in Indian shipyards. "As we aim to become a navy with over 200 ships by 2035, our goal is to achieve self-reliance at the component level and build a fully self-reliant force by 2047," he said.
The maritime force is adopting a clear approach towards building credible capabilities across the spectrum of operations, addressing evolving threat perceptions on both the Western and Eastern coastlines, he said.
"Within this broader framework, in 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned 12 warships and one submarine. This momentum continues with plans to induct about 15 more ships in 2026, setting an unprecedented benchmark and marking the highest rate of induction in our history," he said.
Emphasizing operational readiness, he said the Navy remains focused on sharpening critical warfighting capabilities, particularly in anti-submarine and underwater warfare.
On the commissioning of the Anjadip vessel, he said it is the fourth of the 16 shallow water anti-submarine warfare vessels and strengthens the country's underwater warfare capability, particularly in the coastal and littoral waters of the Eastern region.
The Anjadip is equipped with state-of-the-art shallow water sonars, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets, and a combat management system, he said.
Quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who has said that indigenisation in defence production strengthens national security, Tripathi said, "In that spirit, our pursuit of Atmanirbharta has ensured that this ship (Anjadip) enters service with robust capability and operational effectiveness."
It is noteworthy that the Anjadip ship was built by a team based in Kolkata, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, in the East, and Larsen and Toubro's Kattuppalli shipyard in the South. The ship is equipped with a combat management system designed in Ghaziabad in the North and is named after Anjadip Island in the Western region.
"It is indeed a true example of a maritime nation – India," he said.