Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Saturday, 11 July declared the Indian Navy a fully 'Aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant) force, stating that the bulk of modern technologies the Navy requires are today manufactured domestically. His remarks came during the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh — a milestone he described as a 'potent and highly significant' addition to the fleet.

INS Mahendragiri: A Milestone in Indian Shipbuilding

Admiral Swaminathan highlighted that INS Mahendragiri was built in 50 per cent less time than the stipulated construction period, underscoring the growing efficiency of India's shipbuilding ecosystem. He noted that the vessel carries a 75 per cent increase in indigenous components compared to earlier vessels in its class. 'The Indian shipbuilding industry, including both domestic and private sectors, has grown in a mature and integrated manner over the past few years,' he said.

The Aatmanirbharta Push in Naval Capability

The Naval Chief stressed that indigenisation is a foundational principle — not merely a policy directive. 'We want to source weapons, sensor systems and steel that are indigenous,' Swaminathan said, adding that the Navy is continuously working to embed domestic solutions across every dimension of shipbuilding. He noted that the Navy collaborates closely with the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Department of Defence Production (DDP), alongside both public and private sector industries, to set capability challenges and drive innovation.

Adapting to Evolving Warfare Technologies

On the question of rapidly changing warfare technologies, Admiral Swaminathan acknowledged that 'the character of warfare and the nature of war are always changing based on the technologies available.' He maintained, however, that the Indian Navy actively tracks global technology trends — including emerging and future capabilities — and calibrates its own development plans accordingly. 'If we have to be a step ahead, then we have to adapt the required technologies,' he said. Crucially, he added: 'All those kinds of technologies are being made in India today.'

Indian Navy's Role in the Strait of Hormuz

Admiral Swaminathan also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing suggestions that the region poses a novel challenge for the Navy. 'It is not a new or big issue for the Indian Navy. It is a part of our role — we are made for this,' he said. Describing the Strait as a war zone requiring active merchant ship protection, he confirmed that the Navy has been escorting Indian merchant vessels safely through the corridor on government directions. 'Before it became a national crisis... we have been able to do it,' he added. This comes amid heightened regional tensions that have periodically threatened commercial shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf.

What This Signals for India's Naval Ambitions

The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri and the Naval Chief's remarks collectively signal a deliberate acceleration of India's maritime self-sufficiency drive. With the Navy targeting indigenous sourcing for weapons, sensors, and structural materials, and with private sector shipyards increasingly integrated into the supply chain, India's defence industrial base is being reshaped — ship by ship. The next phase of capability expansion, according to Swaminathan, will be governed by the same principle: build at home, build ahead.