NEW DELHI, May 31, 2026 — India is stepping up efforts to strengthen its submarine capabilities in response to the growing naval presence of China and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Saturday.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Admiral Tripathi said New Delhi remains closely focused on developments in the region as strategic competition intensifies and the presence of extra-regional powers continues to expand.
“Strategic competition and the presence of external actors in the Indian Ocean Region are increasing steadily,” Tripathi said. “We are fully aware of these developments. The growing involvement of outside powers is moving the region from an era of cooperation to one of intense competition.”
The remarks come amid deepening military cooperation between China and Pakistan in the Indo-Pacific. Last month, the two countries announced that four Chinese-built diesel-electric attack submarines had been inducted into the Pakistani Navy, marking a significant enhancement of Islamabad’s underwater warfare capabilities.
Asked about the development, Tripathi said the Indian Navy continuously monitors regional military activities and adjusts its preparedness accordingly.
“As a professional maritime force, the Indian Navy closely observes all developments in its neighborhood,” he said. “Our approach is capability-driven and threat-aware.”
To strengthen its naval deterrence, India is advancing the Project 75-India (P75-I) program, a major defense initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s submarine fleet. Under the project, the navy plans to acquire six advanced stealth submarines while continuing broader efforts to expand and modernize its maritime forces.
Tripathi said India is also pursuing the construction of more than 200 warships as part of a long-term naval modernization strategy. The program aligns with the government’s push for defense self-reliance through domestic design and manufacturing.
“We are emphasizing self-reliance to strengthen India’s defense sector,” he said, referring to the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative.
The navy chief stressed that India’s military modernization is not directed against any specific country but is intended to safeguard national interests and maintain regional stability.
“Our objective is not to target any particular nation,” Tripathi said. “We seek to ensure the protection of India’s legitimate national interests under all circumstances and contribute to a stable, free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.”
The Indian Ocean has emerged as a key arena of geopolitical competition in recent years, with China expanding its maritime footprint and regional navies investing heavily in new capabilities to secure strategic sea lanes and protect national interests.
