- 60 Warships Under Construction: Indian Navy’s Commitment to Self-Reliance
Bangalore. 13 February 2025. At Aero India 2025, the Indian Navy took a significant step toward self-reliance in defence aviation with the unveiling of the Indian Naval Aviation – Technological Roadmap 2047. The document, launched by MoS(Defence) Sanjay Seth during a seminar on February 12, 2025, outlines the Navy’s commitment to indigenization, technological advancement, and capability building in line with India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. With the theme ‘Transition to Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation – 2047 and its Associated Ecosystem,’ the seminar served as a platform to discuss the roadmap to achieving 100% self-reliance in Indian naval aviation by 2047.
“India is strategically poised to play a pivotal role due to the geostrategic position in the Indian Ocean for which indigenous capability was essential for peaceful coexistence and security in the region,” stated MoS while the unveiling with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi who was also present during the seminar.
Sanjay Seth stated that recent world conflicts have demonstrated that a credible defence force supported by a robust industrial base was key to a strong and vibrant nation. He urged all the stakeholders to remain steadfast and resolute in their efforts to provide innovative, indigenous and long-lasting solutions to complex problems through a productive & collaborative approach. He commended the Indian Navy’s efforts in formulating the technology road map 2047 towards becoming an ‘Aatmanirbhar’, agile, responsive and future ready force.
He highlighted the fact that the technology roadmap being unveiled was not merely a book but a credible document towards realising the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ enunciated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The document would serve as a guiding beacon to indigenous defence R&D, DPSUs, Industry partners, MSMEs, Startups and academia and various stakeholders. He called for the necessity to reduce timeframes in design, development and deployment of systems.
Throwing light upon the power of Indian Navy, Sanjay Seth stated that the last decade had witnessed the emergence of India as a reckonable economic power with the Indian Navy ranking among the top advanced navies of the world. He mentioned that the Indian Navy with over 60 warships under construction in various Indian Shipyards and over 39 indigenous ships & submarines having been commissioned in the last couple of years was a true ambassador of ‘Aatmanirbharta’. He exhorted the Indian Navy for their nation first attitude and commended the dedication and unrelenting efforts towards self-reliance.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi in his address stated that the ever-evolving nature of war fighting particularly in the air domain called for continual efforts and adoption of niche technologies in the aviation sector. He further highlighted that Aero India had been aptly themed as a runway to a billion opportunities as it offers a common platform to all stakeholders, R&D establishments, Industry, MSMEs, Startup and academia to exchange ideas; provide access to examine, evaluate & gain first-hand experience of advanced systems, technologies and equipment.
Chief of the Naval Staff bolstered the fact that the Indian Navy aviation was leapfrogging from traditional Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles to technology intensive tasks such as communication relay, jamming platforms, scientific research and SAR roles. He further stated that the futuristic design and development of fighters, helicopters, airborne systems, avionics and weapon equipment were all testimony to the relentless efforts and unwavering commitment of the Indian Navy to mission Aatmanirbharta and 100% self-reliance by 2047.
The ‘Aatmanirbhar Indian Naval Aviation – 2047’ seminar at Aero India 2025 set the stage for India’s indigenous defence aviation revolution. The event reinforced the Indian Navy’s role as a catalyst for technological innovation, paving the way for unshackling creativity and strengthening the indigenous ecosystem. With a clear focus on capability development, rapid deployment of advanced technologies, and global competitiveness, the Indian Naval Aviation Roadmap 2047 is a defining step in India’s journey toward self-sufficiency in defence.
