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Future of the Indian Navy
This is a list I'm making using purely open-source information regarding the fleet composition of the Indian Navy in the foreseeable future (confirmed programs seen through to their logical end, alongside existing vessels expected to serve till a reasonably distant future like late 2030s). Note that all of these vessels may not co-exist in the fleet at the same time, however the final numbers may remain more or less the same as newer ships replace older ones. Note that I have not included any programs for which the number of hulls required are not yet clear or there is little to no information regarding the program (like NGF frigate or Project-76 diesel sub). Any observations or notations I have regarding each entry are listed below the accompanying picture.
Additionally, I'm not including any Non-Combatant vessels like MRIS telemetry ships, survey vessels or torpedo-recovery vessels.
Aircraft Carriers - 03
Project-71 "Vikrant"
1 x Ship
40,000 ton STOBAR Carrier
First aircraft carrier designed & built in India
Kiev-class "Vikramaditya"
1 x Ship
45,700 ton STOBAR Carrier
IAC-2 "Vishal"
1 x Ship
Unknown displacement, possible CATOBAR with EMALS
(Representational image) Recent developments suggest the Carrier's design could be centered around the concept of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) using a combination of manned fighters & unmanned drones performing a variety of roles ranging from strike, reconnaissance, loyal wingmen & perhaps refueling.
Amphibious Warfare Vessels - 15
Multi-Role Support Vessel
4 x Ships
20-30,000 ton LHD
Customized design with accommodation for very large rotary wing aircraft (including CH-47, V-22 flight ops+basing and CH-53K flight operations). The 4 x LHDs will likely replace & supersede the role performed by the single Austin-class LPD (INS Jalashwa).
Shardul-class
3 x Ships
5,650 ton LST
Mk.IV
8 x Ships
1,000 ton LCU
Replaces the Mk.III LCU
Major Surface Combatants - 50
Next-Generation Destroyer "Project-18"
6 x Ships
10-13,000 ton DDG
Picture of the similarly sized Italian DDX used as placeholder, not to mention that Fincantieri will likely be a design consultant. The 6 ships will likely replace the 3 Delhi-class DDGs. NGD and NGF programs may make the switch to Rolls Royce MT30-based IEP propulsion, moving away from the traditionally Ukrainian-Russian propulsion layout of Indian destroyers (frigates are already Western in that regard). Remains to be seen if NGD takes on a purely AAW+Land Attack role while offloading ASW+ASuW to NGF.
Project-15B Visakhapatnam-class
4 x Ships
7,400 ton DDG
Slightly modified follow-on version of Kolkata-class DDG.
Project-15A Kolkata-class
3 x Ships
7,400 ton DDG
First Indian ship proven to be capable of Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), as are all combatant classes commissioned thereafter. The 3 x P15As and 4 x P15Bs will replace the 5 x Russian-built Kashin-II (Rajput class) DDGs.
Project-17A Nilgiri-class
7 x Ships
6,700 ton FFG
Being built simultaneously in 2 different shipyards using modular construction, laying the groundwork for future vessels to be built using this method. In terms of sensors & processing capabilities, the P17A frigates are equivalent if not superior to the P15A/B DDGs.
Project-17 Shivalik-class
3 x Ships
6,200 ton FFG
First "modern" warship design built in India.
Admiral Grigorovich "Tushil" & "Triput" class
4 x Ships
4,000 tons
Divided into 2 batches, first batch are already-constructed hulls available in Russia while the last batch of two vessels will be built in India as Triput-class
Krivak-II "Talwar" class
6 x Ships
4,000 ton FFG
The frigate classes mentioned above will replace the roles performed by the 3 x P16A Brahmaputra-class and 3 x P16 Godavari-class FFGs. The NGF program of the future may be designed to replace the earliest batches of Talwar-class (commissioned early-2000s) beginning sometime in late-2030s.
Project-28 Kamorta-class
4 x Ships
3,300 ton ASW Corvette
Large ocean-going corvette designed to move with & support Carrier Groups & Task Forces
Next-Generation Corvette
7 x Ships
Unknown displacement, Multipurpose Corvette
Gowind 2500 design used as placeholder. GRSE Kolkata has signed up with Naval Group to build Gowind-class vessels in India for both domestic use & export so there could be a connection.
Next-Generation Missile Vessel
6 x Ships
2,500 ton Multipurpose Corvette
Fincantieri's Doha-class AAW corvette used as placeholder. CSL Kochi has signed MoU with Fincantieri as consultant so a possibility exists that the design could have influence from the same.
Minor Surface Combatants - 24
GRSE SWC
8 x Ships
750 ton Littoral ASW Craft
Construction of 5 of these ships has been subcontracted to a Private-sector yard (L&T).
CSL SWC
8 x Ships
750 ton Littoral ASW Craft
Next-Generation Mine Countermeasures Vessel
8 x Ships
Unknown displacement, Mine Warfare Vessel
Originally meant to be 12-ship order, later resized to 8-ship order. Meant to be constructed at GRSE Kolkata. Design details unknown. Belgian-Dutch MCM Mothership design used as placeholder.
Nuclear Submarines - 13-14
"S-5"
3-4 x Boats
13,500 ton SSBN
The S-5 SSBNs with 12 x missile tubes will ultimately take over the role of Continuous At-Sea Deterrence from the Arihant & Arihant Stretch classes.
"Arihant Stretch"
2 x Boats
8,000 ton SSBN/SSGN
Satellite images of new shelters at Vizag corroborate the previous reports that last 2 boats of the Arihant class will be of a "Stretched" design with 8 tubes instead of 4. Graphic representation by Harshal Pal
Arihant-class
2 x Boats
7,000 ton SSBN/SSGN
First nuclear-powered submarine class constructed in India. First boat (SSBN-80 INS Arihant) is commissioned & conducted first deterrence patrol in 2018. Second boat INS Arighat in the water. Once each larger S-5 SSBN comes online in the 2030s, a corresponding unit of Arihant & Arihant Stretch is likely to be retired from deterrence service and relegated to a SSGN role.
Project-75A class
6 x Boats
Unknown displacement, Hunter-killer SSN
Six boats confirmed as required, numbers could increase in future
Diesel Submarines - 12
Project-75I class
6 x Boats
~3,000 ton SSP
Six boats to be constructed in India of a modified foreign design, including Fuel-cell AIP and Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) technology.
Scorpene "Project-75 Kalvari-class"
6 x Boats
1,800 ton SSK/SSP
The boats will incorporate DRDO's indigenous Fuel-Cell AIP technology during their first refit
Miniature Submarines & Submersibles - 04
SOV
2 x Boats
~400 ton Midget Submarine
Special Operations submarine designed to dock multiple Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs)
DSAR-650L
2 x Boats
Deep-Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) submersible
One DSRV with support vessel & crew will be on permanent standby on each seaboard (east & west) to respond to Indian & other regional emergencies involving submerged vessels. Can also be used for covert purposes.
@Nilgiri @Cabatli_53 @Anmdt @T-123456 @AlphaMike @Bilal Khan(Quwa) @Zapper @crixus @Lonewolf @Milspec @BordoEnes @Kartal1 @BogeymanProject-71 "Vikrant"
1 x Ship
40,000 ton STOBAR Carrier
First aircraft carrier designed & built in India
Kiev-class "Vikramaditya"
1 x Ship
45,700 ton STOBAR Carrier
IAC-2 "Vishal"
1 x Ship
Unknown displacement, possible CATOBAR with EMALS
(Representational image) Recent developments suggest the Carrier's design could be centered around the concept of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) using a combination of manned fighters & unmanned drones performing a variety of roles ranging from strike, reconnaissance, loyal wingmen & perhaps refueling.
Amphibious Warfare Vessels - 15
Multi-Role Support Vessel
4 x Ships
20-30,000 ton LHD
Customized design with accommodation for very large rotary wing aircraft (including CH-47, V-22 flight ops+basing and CH-53K flight operations). The 4 x LHDs will likely replace & supersede the role performed by the single Austin-class LPD (INS Jalashwa).
Shardul-class
3 x Ships
5,650 ton LST
Mk.IV
8 x Ships
1,000 ton LCU
Replaces the Mk.III LCU
Major Surface Combatants - 50
Next-Generation Destroyer "Project-18"
6 x Ships
10-13,000 ton DDG
Picture of the similarly sized Italian DDX used as placeholder, not to mention that Fincantieri will likely be a design consultant. The 6 ships will likely replace the 3 Delhi-class DDGs. NGD and NGF programs may make the switch to Rolls Royce MT30-based IEP propulsion, moving away from the traditionally Ukrainian-Russian propulsion layout of Indian destroyers (frigates are already Western in that regard). Remains to be seen if NGD takes on a purely AAW+Land Attack role while offloading ASW+ASuW to NGF.
Project-15B Visakhapatnam-class
4 x Ships
7,400 ton DDG
Slightly modified follow-on version of Kolkata-class DDG.
Project-15A Kolkata-class
3 x Ships
7,400 ton DDG
First Indian ship proven to be capable of Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), as are all combatant classes commissioned thereafter. The 3 x P15As and 4 x P15Bs will replace the 5 x Russian-built Kashin-II (Rajput class) DDGs.
Project-17A Nilgiri-class
7 x Ships
6,700 ton FFG
Being built simultaneously in 2 different shipyards using modular construction, laying the groundwork for future vessels to be built using this method. In terms of sensors & processing capabilities, the P17A frigates are equivalent if not superior to the P15A/B DDGs.
Project-17 Shivalik-class
3 x Ships
6,200 ton FFG
First "modern" warship design built in India.
Admiral Grigorovich "Tushil" & "Triput" class
4 x Ships
4,000 tons
Divided into 2 batches, first batch are already-constructed hulls available in Russia while the last batch of two vessels will be built in India as Triput-class
Krivak-II "Talwar" class
6 x Ships
4,000 ton FFG
The frigate classes mentioned above will replace the roles performed by the 3 x P16A Brahmaputra-class and 3 x P16 Godavari-class FFGs. The NGF program of the future may be designed to replace the earliest batches of Talwar-class (commissioned early-2000s) beginning sometime in late-2030s.
Project-28 Kamorta-class
4 x Ships
3,300 ton ASW Corvette
Large ocean-going corvette designed to move with & support Carrier Groups & Task Forces
Next-Generation Corvette
7 x Ships
Unknown displacement, Multipurpose Corvette
Gowind 2500 design used as placeholder. GRSE Kolkata has signed up with Naval Group to build Gowind-class vessels in India for both domestic use & export so there could be a connection.
Next-Generation Missile Vessel
6 x Ships
2,500 ton Multipurpose Corvette
Fincantieri's Doha-class AAW corvette used as placeholder. CSL Kochi has signed MoU with Fincantieri as consultant so a possibility exists that the design could have influence from the same.
Minor Surface Combatants - 24
GRSE SWC
8 x Ships
750 ton Littoral ASW Craft
Construction of 5 of these ships has been subcontracted to a Private-sector yard (L&T).
CSL SWC
8 x Ships
750 ton Littoral ASW Craft
Next-Generation Mine Countermeasures Vessel
8 x Ships
Unknown displacement, Mine Warfare Vessel
Originally meant to be 12-ship order, later resized to 8-ship order. Meant to be constructed at GRSE Kolkata. Design details unknown. Belgian-Dutch MCM Mothership design used as placeholder.
Nuclear Submarines - 13-14
"S-5"
3-4 x Boats
13,500 ton SSBN
The S-5 SSBNs with 12 x missile tubes will ultimately take over the role of Continuous At-Sea Deterrence from the Arihant & Arihant Stretch classes.
"Arihant Stretch"
2 x Boats
8,000 ton SSBN/SSGN
Satellite images of new shelters at Vizag corroborate the previous reports that last 2 boats of the Arihant class will be of a "Stretched" design with 8 tubes instead of 4. Graphic representation by Harshal Pal
Arihant-class
2 x Boats
7,000 ton SSBN/SSGN
First nuclear-powered submarine class constructed in India. First boat (SSBN-80 INS Arihant) is commissioned & conducted first deterrence patrol in 2018. Second boat INS Arighat in the water. Once each larger S-5 SSBN comes online in the 2030s, a corresponding unit of Arihant & Arihant Stretch is likely to be retired from deterrence service and relegated to a SSGN role.
Project-75A class
6 x Boats
Unknown displacement, Hunter-killer SSN
Six boats confirmed as required, numbers could increase in future
Diesel Submarines - 12
Project-75I class
6 x Boats
~3,000 ton SSP
Six boats to be constructed in India of a modified foreign design, including Fuel-cell AIP and Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) technology.
Scorpene "Project-75 Kalvari-class"
6 x Boats
1,800 ton SSK/SSP
The boats will incorporate DRDO's indigenous Fuel-Cell AIP technology during their first refit
Miniature Submarines & Submersibles - 04
SOV
2 x Boats
~400 ton Midget Submarine
Special Operations submarine designed to dock multiple Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs)
DSAR-650L
2 x Boats
Deep-Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) submersible
One DSRV with support vessel & crew will be on permanent standby on each seaboard (east & west) to respond to Indian & other regional emergencies involving submerged vessels. Can also be used for covert purposes.
Let me know if I've missed any.
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