New Delhi: The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday said the presence of Indian warships in the South China Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean demonstrates the Indian Navy’s blue-water force capability. Addressing the Indian Navy Commanders’ Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Singh said the deployments reflected the service’s operational reach well beyond India’s immediate maritime neighbourhood.
Singh said the Navy had a crucial role in ensuring strategic depth and regional power projection as India’s maritime responsibilities expanded. He described India as a “first responder” and “preferred security partner” in the Indian Ocean region, saying its strategic position and responsibilities in the region were growing.
The remarks came at the second edition of the Navy’s biannual commanders’ conference at Nausena Bhawan, being held from September 29 to October 1. The meeting brings together the Navy’s senior leadership to review operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development.
Maritime surveillance and energy security
Singh said congestion, deception and grey zone activities had made the maritime domain increasingly complex and called for stronger monitoring and response mechanisms. He also sought a significant upgrade of India’s maritime surveillance architecture and greater analytical capability to deal with the growing volume and complexity of maritime traffic.
Linking maritime security with India’s economy, Singh said around 85–90 per cent of the country’s crude oil and about 50 per cent of its natural gas are imported through maritime routes.
He cited the Navy’s role during the West Asia crisis in ensuring the safe passage of Indian flagged merchant vessels, particularly liquefied petroleum gas tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz under operation Urja Suraksha. The defence ministry had earlier said the operation safely escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying essential cargo worth more than ₹9,000 crore.
18 warships planned for induction
Singh said 18 warships are planned for induction or commissioning during 2026, which he described as the largest single-year force accretion in the Indian Navy’s history. He said the expansion reflected the growing maturity of India’s domestic naval shipbuilding ecosystem while stressing that further capability enhancement remained necessary.
Recently commissioned warships contain more than 75 per cent indigenous content, according to Singh. He said India should move beyond meeting its own naval requirements and eventually export warships to friendly countries.
The defence minister also highlighted the Navy’s assumption of command of combined task force 154 under the combined maritime forces. Operation Southern Readiness, conducted in Kochi during India’s command tenure, brought together 276 personnel from 27 countries, 76 facilitators and subject matter experts and representatives from four international organizations.
Singh also cited INS Sudarshini’s Lokayan-26 deployment across the United States, Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, saying the voyage had strengthened India’s maritime diplomacy and engagement with the Indian diaspora while showcasing the country’s maritime heritage.Singh also noted the deployment of women officers on frontline warships and aircraft under the navy’s “all ranks, all roles” approach.
He called on the Navy to maintain its combat readiness while developing into a future ready force capable of responding to an increasingly complex maritime environment.