The Indian Navy: A Military Power at a Political Crossroads,

Abstract : The Indian Navy stands at an important juncture in its history. Long considered a 'blue water' navy, many of its major vessels are nearing the end of their useful service lives, and will soon require replacement. Unfortunately, the country has chosen to devote the majority of its fiscal resources toward other pursuits, primarily business-related ones. Tenuous military procurement relationships with both the east and the west, coupled with an indigenous shipbuilding program which is struggling to achieve an acceptable level of productivity, portend for a future that is unclear at best. Nevertheless, India is expected to enter the 21st Century with a smaller, but still formidable, regional naval presence. This paper will review the growth of the Indian Navy over its relatively short history, examine in detail its current tasking, organization and capabilities, and venture an estimation of what the immediate future may hold for this proud, but aging force.