Driven by the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision, the Indian Navy is rapidly integrating technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and cybersecurity, thus emerging as a technologically advanced maritime force. This transformation, highlighted by the Navy’s commitment to innovation and self-sufficiency, is enabling India to fortify its maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific.
For India, whose extensive coastline provides strategic access to these waters, maintaining control over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is essential for both regional security and global commerce. Recognising the complexities of modern maritime security, the Indian Navy is advancing towards technological self-reliance, placing India on a transformative path in the global defence landscape.
Artificial Intelligence in Naval Operations
A significant development within the Indian Navy is the integration of AI in the Combat Management System (CMS). Acting as the central intelligence hub on modern warships, the AI-enhanced CMS processes vast amounts of data from radar, sonar, and other sensors, creating real-time situational awareness and a faster response to threats. This capability allows the Navy to detect, classify, and track potential risks with increased precision, making the CMS an invaluable asset for maritime operations.
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AI also underpins predictive maintenance, a shift from traditional maintenance to a proactive approach where equipment health is continuously monitored, and repairs are predicted before malfunctions occur. This predictive capability minimises mission downtime and ensures ships remain operationally ready during critical patrols in the IOR, reinforcing India’s position in safeguarding these strategic waters.
Autonomous and Unmanned Systems
The Navy’s adoption of unmanned systems exemplifies its technological evolution. The Neerakshi Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with private industry, exemplifies how autonomous systems reshape naval operations. Neerakshi is designed for underwater surveys and mine detection, making it a critical component for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Navy enhances its operational capacity by using these autonomous systems without placing personnel at risk.
Developing a 15-meter Autonomous Fast Interceptor Boat further showcases the Navy’s advancements in unmanned systems. Equipped with high-speed patrolling and surveillance capabilities, this vessel’s autonomy enables continuous monitoring across vast, challenging waters, supporting the Navy’s efforts in secure regional waters. Additionally, the Navy’s work on drone swarms and unmanned aerial systems is steadily expanding its scope of operations, providing comprehensive maritime surveillance and operational agility.
Enhanced Surveillance and Communication Technology
Secure communication is fundamental to coordinated naval operations, and advancements in the Navy’s communication networks are reinforcing this foundation. Software-defined radio (SDR) technology, now deployed across Indian warships, enables real-time, encrypted communication across different frequency bands. This adaptability supports interoperability within the Navy and with allied forces, enhancing the Navy’s operational flexibility.
The Link II Next Generation (Link II NG) data link system strengthens this communication framework, facilitating high data throughput and redundancy to ensure uninterrupted information flow across ships, submarines, aircraft, and shore stations. This infrastructure supports Network-Centric Operations (NCO), allowing the Navy to coordinate its response rapidly and effectively in the face of emerging threats.
Swavlamban 2024: Fostering Indigenous Defence Technology
The Navy’s commitment to self-reliance was displayed at Swavlamban 2024, its flagship innovation and indigenisation event in New Delhi. Under the theme “Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation,” the event gathered defence, government, and industry leaders to reinforce India’s transition from defence dependency to an innovation-driven ecosystem.
Spearheaded by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), Swavlamban 2024 highlighted pioneering products developed under the SPRINT initiative (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence). This initiative has already facilitated the creation of over 75 new defence products, from AI-driven systems to dual-use items, by partnering with Indian startups and MSMEs.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed the Navy’s alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. The event introduced new challenges under the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 3.0) and the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 13), which include advanced challenges across AI, autonomous bots, and military communications. The success of these initiatives highlights the Navy’s drive toward technological autonomy and a burgeoning partnership with India’s private sector to foster a resilient defence ecosystem.
Cybersecurity and Quantum Technology
Cybersecurity has become a critical focus as the Navy’s dependence on digital infrastructure increases. The Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE) has developed military-grade encryption tools like Linkryptor and sDrive, which secure the Navy’s communications against evolving cyber threats. In anticipation of future security challenges, WESEE is also developing quantum-safe algorithms to protect communications from decryption by quantum computing—a critical step in safeguarding the Navy’s digital assets amid an evolving technological landscape.
Overcoming Challenges and Charting Future Goals
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in achieving complete self-reliance in defence technology. Scaling domestic production of advanced technologies requires policy support, funding, and cooperation across industries. To meet these demands, the Navy has introduced accelerated procurement policies to streamline defence contracting, particularly for startups and smaller firms working on innovative technologies.
International collaborations also play a crucial role in establishing India as a global player in indigenous technology. Through initiatives like the US-India Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) partnership, the Navy aims to bring Indian defence products to the international market, thus bolstering its own capabilities while enhancing India’s strategic influence. These collaborations create pathways for exports, positioning India as a capable defence provider and reinforcing its naval capabilities.
Swavlamban 2024 captured India’s commitment to defence self-sufficiency, showcasing the Indian Navy‘s robust steps toward building indigenous capabilities across AI, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity. This transformation reflects the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, enhancing India’s defence readiness while strengthening its position as a rising power in regional security. By embedding cutting-edge technologies in naval operations and fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem, the Navy is securing India’s maritime future in the Indo-Pacific.
Through initiatives like SPRINT, the Navy is paving the way for strategic autonomy and self-reliance, supported by an increasingly capable domestic defence industry. Swavlamban 2024 was more than an exhibition; it was a testament to India’s strides toward a robust and self-reliant defence framework, positioning India as a formidable player in the global defence landscape. The Indian Navy’s advancements shape India’s role in regional security, safeguarding national interests, and affirming India’s commitment to a self-reliant future in an increasingly complex world.