India commissioned two indigenously built warships — stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri and submarine hunter INS Malvan — into the Indian Navy this month, a move analysts describe as a significant step in New Delhi's drive to field a 200-ship navy by 2035 while reducing dependence on foreign defence suppliers. The commissioning comes as India seeks to counter China's rapidly expanding naval fleet and Pakistan's induction of advanced Chinese-built attack submarines.

The Two New Warships

INS Mahendragiri, designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, carries 75 per cent indigenous content — a direct reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) push in the defence sector. It is the sixth ship to join the Nilgiri-class fleet.

The seventh and final Nilgiri-class vessel, Vindhyagiri, is expected to be inducted within months. Beyond that, seven or eight next-generation warships under the proposed Project-17 Bravo are already in the pipeline, according to reports.

Where the Fleet Stands Today

India's navy currently comprises around 150 vessels, including an estimated 135 frontline combat platforms — frigates, destroyers, and submarines — with nearly 50 additional ships under construction. According to Sanjay Misra, a former Rear Admiral and defence analyst, the composition of the fleet makes the 200-ship target well within reach.

'Considering that composition is largely made up of indigenously supported ships, the target of a 200-ship navy by 2035 is well within reach. Given the right impetus, we could even exceed this figure,' Misra said.

The Shipbuilding Ambition

Last year, New Delhi unveiled a $8.4 billion maritime revival package aimed at positioning India among the world's top five shipbuilding nations by 2047 — the centenary of the country's independence. Srinivasan Balakrishnan, Director of Strategic Engagements and Partnerships at the Indic Researchers Forum think tank, called the 200-ship goal ambitious but achievable, citing recent milestones including the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier delivered in 2022, the indigenous Kalvari-class submarines, and 10 domestically built destroyers.

Balakrishnan noted that the domestic manufacturing pipeline has expanded to cover corvettes, frigates, and patrol vessels. However, he cautioned that capacity constraints, a shortage of skilled workers, and supply chain bottlenecks in critical systems remain persistent challenges.

The Role of Foreign Partnerships

'India will likely need selective collaboration and technology transfers with foreign partners, such as France, Russia, Israel, and the US for propulsion, sensors and weapons integration,' Balakrishnan said, adding that hull construction and systems integration could largely be handled domestically — balancing self-reliance with timely delivery.

This is not a retreat from Atmanirbhar Bharat but a pragmatic calibration: build the hull at home, source the edge technologies through strategic partnerships. Notably, this approach mirrors how South Korea and Japan scaled their own naval industries over two decades.

Strategic Outlook

Balakrishnan underscored that a capable navy would be essential for India to secure its sea lanes, protect trade routes, and maintain credible deterrence in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific. 'With focused investment and pragmatic partnerships, India is well positioned to meet this goal and bolster regional stability,' he said. All eyes now turn to the pace of Project-17 Bravo approvals and the rollout of the maritime revival package's first disbursements.