On January 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three frontline naval platforms—INS Surat (a destroyer), INS Nilgiri (a frigate), and INS Vagsheer (a submarine)—in a significant event that highlights India's growing maritime capabilities. These platforms, all built indigenously at the Mazagon Docks, are central to the country's focus on "Atmanirbharta" (self-reliance) in defense. The triple commissioning of these platforms represents a step forward in India's ambition to bolster its maritime power and play a greater role in regional security, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

However, despite these advancements, India faces a complex challenge in balancing its maritime aspirations with the demands of continental security. The geographical and strategic context of India, along with its defense budget constraints, complicates the achievement of its maritime goals.

Continental Security Prioritization

India's land security needs often take precedence over its maritime interests. The country is burdened by contested land borders, particularly in the Himalayas, which require a significant portion of its defense resources.

India allocates approximately 85% of its military forces to land security, driven by ongoing standoffs with China in the Ladakh region. This commitment to land-based defense severely limits the resources available for naval expansion and modernization.

China's Dual Threat: A Maritime and Continental Challenge

India faces a dual challenge from China. While China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean is a direct threat to India's maritime interests, its increasing aggression along India’s land borders, particularly in the Himalayas, demands India's attention.

·        The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the growing presence of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the Indian Ocean only exacerbate this challenge.

·        China is investing heavily in both naval expansion and infrastructure development, including in regions like Gwadar, Pakistan, which further strains India's ability to focus on both fronts simultaneously.

Indo-Pacific Rivalries and Strategic Alliances

India’s role in the Indo-Pacific is also complicated by its participation in various strategic partnerships, notably the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) with the US, Japan, and Australia.

·        While India’s involvement in QUAD exercises, such as the Malabar Naval Exercise, strengthens its maritime capabilities, it also risks escalating tensions with China, which perceives these alliances as a direct challenge to its regional dominance.

·        India's careful approach to avoid over-committing in these alliances, such as refraining from fully endorsing the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) pact, reflects its need to maintain a balance between regional security dynamics and its strategic autonomy.

·        India’s maritime aspirations cannot be pursued without considering the broader geopolitical and economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

Budget Constraints and Economic Realities

India's defense budget, which stood at approximately $84 billion in 2023, remains limited compared to major powers like the US and China. Both the US and China allocate a significant portion—around 25%—of their defense budgets to their respective navies.

·        In contrast, India allocates only 17-18% of its defense budget to its navy. This disparity in funding severely restricts India’s capacity to modernize and expand its naval forces at the pace required to match China’s growing maritime capabilities.

·        The limitations on naval spending have made it challenging for India to scale up its naval force and technological capabilities. Although the commissioning of INS Surat, a P15B Guided Missile Destroyer with 75% indigenous content, is an impressive step forward, it remains part of an ongoing effort to achieve self-reliance in defense.

·        A more substantial and sustained investment in naval capabilities, particularly in indigenous shipbuilding and submarine production, is needed to meet India’s maritime goals.

Geographical Constraints and Resource Allocation

India's geographical position further complicates its maritime aspirations. With long land borders to defend, including the contested Himalayan region, a significant portion of India's defense resources must be dedicated to land security.

·        Additionally, India’s strategic focus on securing island territories like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, vital for its influence in the Indian Ocean, requires considerable investments in coastal and port defense, often diverting resources from broader naval expansion.

·        India's reliance on vital chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca for energy imports highlights the importance of maritime security. Securing these maritime routes is crucial for India’s economic stability, making the need for a capable blue-water navy more urgent.

·        However, the country's limited operational capacity and infrastructural constraints, such as outdated shipyards and port facilities, hamper its ability to enhance its naval reach, particularly in the South China Sea.

The Role of Indigenous Capabilities in Maritime Security

One of the major challenges to India’s maritime ambitions is its reliance on foreign technology and platforms. Despite the indigenous shipbuilding successes symbolized by platforms like INS Surat, India continues to depend on foreign suppliers for many critical technologies, especially in ordnance and weapons systems.

·        The success of India’s Brahmos missile is a notable achievement, but the country must scale up indigenous research and development (R&D) in core areas of military capability to achieve true self-reliance.

·        Indigenous R&D efforts have made slow progress, especially in developing advanced warships and submarines. The ongoing efforts to build nuclear-powered submarines like the INS Arihant under the "Make in India" initiative provide hope, but the path to sustained technological independence in the maritime domain remains a work in progress.

A Roadmap for Maritime Capability Enhancement

1.   Focus on Coastal Defense Systems: Strengthening coastal surveillance and missile systems, along with enhancing naval air bases, will ensure near-sea dominance without overstretching the naval force. The Sagar Prahari Bal, deployed to enhance coastal and port security, is one example of India’s efforts in this area.

2.   Incremental Increase in Naval Budget: While land security remains a priority, India should consider gradually reallocating resources from the army to the navy to enhance maritime modernization. This would ensure that the navy can expand its capabilities without compromising land defense priorities.

3.   Strategic Partnerships: Leveraging partnerships like QUAD and logistics agreements with the US and Australia can help reduce the costs of maritime operations and capacity-building. These partnerships will enhance India’s maritime security through joint exercises and collaborative technological advancements.

4.   Dual-Use Infrastructure Development: India should prioritize the development of ports and airstrips for both commercial and military use, ensuring a cost-effective expansion of maritime operations. The Chabahar Port in Iran, which serves both economic and strategic purposes, exemplifies this approach.

5.   Strengthening Indigenous Capabilities: The focus on indigenous shipbuilding, submarines, and defense technologies must be intensified. For instance, the success of INS Arihant underscores the importance of investing in self-reliant defense systems. The government must support the domestic defense industry to reduce reliance on foreign imports.

Conclusion

India’s strategic ambitions to become a major maritime power in the Indo-Pacific are aspirational but achievable. The commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer reflects India’s growing maritime capabilities, but significant challenges remain. The need to balance continental defense priorities with maritime aspirations, particularly in the face of China’s growing influence in the region, requires careful resource allocation and sustained investment in naval modernization.

By focusing on indigenous R&D, strengthening coastal defense systems, and leveraging international partnerships, India can realize its maritime goals without compromising its land security commitments. The journey towards becoming a dominant maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region is long, but the steps taken thus far show promise for a stronger, self-reliant Indian Navy in the future.