In what marks the single largest operational capability boost in the history of the Indian Navy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that 18 warships are scheduled to be inducted or commissioned into service within the calendar year 2026. Delivering the keynote address at the second edition of the biennial Naval Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, the Defence Minister characterized 2026 as a defining watershed for Indian sea power, demonstrating the scale and technical maturity achieved by the nation's domestic shipbuilding infrastructure. The incoming batch spans frontline multi-role stealth frigates, anti-submarine warfare vessels, and specialized auxiliary support platforms, all designed, fabricated, and equipped across Indian public and private shipyards in alignment with the overarching vision of strategic self-reliance in national defense.

Over 75% Indigenous Content: Advancing Toward a 200-Ship Blue-Water Fleet by 2035

Underlining the success of the Make in India initiative across naval platforms, Rajnath Singh emphasized that recently commissioned combatants now feature more than 75 percent indigenous content, spanning sensors, heavy ordnance, propulsion integration, and advanced combat management suites. This domestic manufacturing momentum underpins the Indian Navy’s strategic force-structure roadmap, which aims to operate an active fleet exceeding 200 frontline warships by 2035. Lauding the force's expanding footprint as a primary net security provider, the Defence Minister pointed out that Indian naval warships are executing continuous forward presence, surveillance, and joint exercises across critical international chokepoints, including the South China Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the wider Atlantic Ocean, affirming India’s standing as an expeditionary blue-water force capable of protecting regional stability and critical global commons.

Economic Security Anchor: Operation Urja Suraksha and Upgraded Maritime Surveillance

Emphasizing the Navy’s indispensable role in realizing the national objective of a Developed India by 2047 (Viksit Bharat 2047), Rajnath Singh underscored that naval deterrence is directly linked to India’s macroeconomic sovereignty and energy security. With roughly 85 to 90 percent of the country’s crude petroleum imports and nearly 50 percent of its liquefied natural gas shipments traversing international sea lines of communication, maritime security forms the backbone of domestic energy lifelines. He specifically commended the Indian Navy’s successful execution of 'Operation Urja Suraksha,' which ensured the safe escort and evacuation of Indian-flagged commercial vessels, including pressurized LPG tankers, through the volatile Strait of Hormuz amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Concluding his address, the Defence Minister urged commanders to accelerate the technological overhaul of India’s maritime domain awareness infrastructure by deploying next-generation automated surveillance, artificial intelligence-based maritime traffic analytics, and satellite tracking to stay ahead of complex maritime threats.