Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi stated on Monday that the Indian Navy still faces challenges in accessing certain critical defence technologies, despite notable progress in domestic capability development. He made these remarks while delivering the annual General BC Joshi memorial lecture at the Savitribai Phule Pune University, an event organized by the university's department of defence and strategic studies.
Key Technology Gaps and Indigenous Collaboration
Admiral Tripathi provided a clear-eyed assessment of areas where India still depends on external expertise. Propulsion systems for warships and submarines, aero engines, niche underwater capabilities, high-end weapon systems, hypersonic technology, and large uncrewed systems were specifically identified as cutting-edge fields that continue to elude complete indigenous mastery. The Navy chief emphasized that this precise gap is where the force is now actively partnering with Indian industry in a co-development role, moving beyond the traditional buyer-seller relationship.
He highlighted the Navy's pioneering role in the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) ecosystem, which seeks innovative indigenous solutions. Out of the total 565 challenges issued under iDEX, a significant 35%—amounting to 198 challenges—have been led by the Indian Navy. This substantial share, according to Tripathi, reflects both the vast scale of the Navy's technological requirements and the credibility it has established within the defence innovation community.
Economic and Security Impact of Warship Building
The address strongly linked indigenous warship construction to broader national goals beyond security. Admiral Tripathi asserted that every naval platform built within the country generates valuable manpower, advanced technical skills, and enhances national self-reliance. He cited the tangible example of 'Project 17A', the program to build advanced stealth frigates.
This project alone has created an estimated 1.27 lakh (127,000) jobs across major Indian shipyards like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. "It is proof that every Navy project is linked to national security, the economy and youth employment," the Admiral stated, connecting defence manufacturing directly to economic growth and employment generation.
Forward Posture, Deterrence, and Evolving Threats
Expounding on India's maritime strategy, Admiral Tripathi underscored the importance of a persistent and visible presence in crucial areas. "A nation must not only know what is happening; it must also be present where it matters," he said. He explained that such forward-deployed forces, remaining visible and ready, shape the strategic environment by signalling commitment and capability, thereby creating a deterrent effect.
He pointed to Operation Sindoor as a case where Indian Navy deployments and posture successfully curtailed potential maritime misadventures by Pakistan. Indian warships maintain a continuous presence in critical zones including the Gulf of Aden, the North and Central Arabian Sea, the Southern Indian Ocean, and near the western approaches to the Malacca Strait. In just the last year, these deployments have resulted in over 11,000 ship days and 50,000 flying hours, a testament to the Navy's operational tempo.
The Navy chief warned of an evolving threat landscape. Strategic influence, he noted, is now also determined by economic leverage and control over infrastructure, terming this competition 'Sphere of Influence 2.0'. This new paradigm involves port leases, logistics hubs, and infrastructure investments by extra-regional powers, carried out through partnerships and sometimes opaque financing, posing direct implications for India's strategic autonomy in the Indian Ocean.
He also highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains, noting that disruptions at maritime chokepoints can trigger worldwide cascades. Referencing the Red Sea crisis, he revealed that shipping costs on key Asia-Europe routes spiked nearly five-fold, a shock whose effects are expected to ripple into 2025. Furthermore, he cautioned that smaller state and non-state actors are gaining disproportionate power through inexpensive but disruptive tools like long-range missiles on small platforms, drones, and autonomous vessels.
Admiral Tripathi concluded by stating that artificial intelligence, autonomy, and precision-strike systems are fundamentally rewriting the established grammar of maritime combat, necessitating continuous adaptation and innovation from the Indian Navy.
