200 ships by 2035 - India accelerates the development of its own fleet

According to the Indian Ministry of Defense's plan, this pace of commissioning ships will strengthen the country's position as a full-fledged oceanic maritime power. In addition, this step is aimed at reducing purchases of foreign platforms and increasing the share of domestic developments, weapons, and systems.

India recently commissioned the frigate INS Tamal, the last combat ship ordered from abroad, into its national navy. In the future, all new fleet units will be designed and built exclusively at Indian facilities, in particular at the shipyards:

• Goa Shipyard Limited
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers

The Indian Navy's orders include anti-submarine ships, frigates, reconnaissance vessels, auxiliary fleet ships, and small platforms for shallow water operations. At the same time, despite ambitious plans, India's shipbuilding industry remains limited. The main obstacles are insufficient shipyard production capacity and an urgent need to create effective supply chains. An additional problem is the shortage of skilled personnel, which has previously caused delays in project implementation. Despite these challenges, India expects that the implementation of the plan between 2026 and 2035 will allow it to reach a fleet of 150-160 combat units by 2030 and more than 200 ships and submarines by 2035. This number should meet India's needs in establishing its status as a regional leader in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

According to official information from the Indian Ministry of Defense, the total number of combat ships and submarines currently stands at around 150. At the same time, more than 50 large vessels are at various stages of construction.

India is implementing several large-scale programs to build surface combat ships to strengthen the capabilities of its fleet in the Indian Ocean. As part of Project 17A (Nilgiri-class), seven multi-purpose stealth frigates with a displacement of about 6,600 tons are being built, designed for operations as part of strike and security formations.

The basis of these ships' strike power is BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, which can hit enemy surface targets and coastal targets. Air defense is provided by the Barak-8 anti-aircraft missile system, capable of protecting the ship and its formation from aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and anti-ship missiles at medium ranges. To date, two ships have already been incorporated into the Indian Navy, with the rest at various stages of completion, scheduled for completion by 2026.

At the same time, India is preparing Project 17B, the next stage in the development of frigates after the Nilgiri class. These ships will receive enhanced air defense, an increased number of universal launchers, and a higher level of automation. This will reduce the size of the crew and increase survivability in combat conditions. The program is currently in the design stage, with contracting scheduled to begin in 2025-2026.

The most ambitious project is Project 18 (Next-Generation Destroyer). It involves the creation of large multi-purpose destroyers with a displacement of up to 13,000 tons. These ships will form the basis of future strike forces, combining the functions of long-range air defense, strikes against maritime targets, and anti-submarine warfare. The destroyers will be armed with a large number of universal vertical launchers for BrahMos missiles and promising long-range cruise missiles. The air defense system will protect not only the destroyer itself, but also the entire ship group from massive air attacks.

Construction is planned to be carried out mainly at the Indian shipyards Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, and with the participation of private companies. The focus on the “Make in India” program guarantees maximum localization of weapons, combat systems, and equipment.