Indian Navy News & Discussion - 12 April 2021

[Rakesh]

Naval Investiture Ceremony - 2026

[uddu]

Probably the nation's message to Iran.

Navy Chief Warns: Strait of Hormuz Tensions Threaten Global Energy & Trade

In a stern warning from Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are causing significant economic impact and energy instability, emphasizing that competition at sea has now expanded beyond oil and energy resources. Speaking from Mumbai, Admiral Tripathi highlighted the growing strategic risks in the region, noting that maritime security challenges are now multifaceted, involving trade routes, military presence, and geopolitical competition. Analysts warn that these tensions could affect global oil prices, shipping lanes, and regional stability if left unchecked. In this video, we break down Admiral Tripathi’s warning, explain the economic and strategic implications for India and global trade, and examine what international players are doing to ensure maritime stability. Stay tuned for in-depth coverage and expert analysis.

[uddu]

Reliving the journey of old Taragiri

Reliving the journey of old Taragiri — through the voices of her crew, who shaped her legacy at sea with courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment. As a new warship prepares to carry the name forward, the legacy sails on.

[uddu]

INS Sunayna Casts Off from Mumbai | #IOS_ SAGAR26 Sea Phase Begins

Under #IOS_SAGAR26, personnel from 17 nations have trained together, reinforcing interoperability and shared commitment towards secure seas. As INS Sunayna prepares for the sea phase, this collective endeavour reflects the spirit of #MAHASAGAR and enduring maritime cooperation. Flag-off by Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri on 02 April 2026.

[uddu]

The Story of INS Taragiri - a journey of strength, stealth and indigenous excellence

[uddu]

Babbar Sher On Varunastra.

https://x.com/livefist/status/2040031145308639547
@livefist
Just in from Visakhapatnam.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/20 ... 39637?s=20 ---> This ship - weighing approximately 7,000 tons - is not only large in size but also equally powerful in its capabilities. It can travel at high speeds and remain deployed in the ocean for extended periods. It is equipped with systems that help monitor enemy activities, keep itself secure, and respond immediately when needed. In addition, it features modern radar, sonar, and missile systems, such as BrahMos and surface-to-air missiles, which further enhance its strength: Defence Minister Shri @rajnathsingh.

[uddu]

https://x.com/MeghUpdates/status/2040474083176144906
@MeghUpdates
Kochi: ‘Malwan’, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, has been HANDED OVER to the Indian Navy.

[Anoop]

India has ordered 31 MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for around $3 billion, suggesting a unit cost of around $100 million.

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/ind ... on-notice/

The US has lost 16 such drones so far to Iranian SAMs.

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/us-m ... 0-million/

This report suggests that losses are not surprising since they are vulnerable to SAMs as there is a delay between signal transmission and reception to base, coupled with slow speed of maneuver.

https://www.sandboxx.us/news/american-f ... inst-iran/

Questions: 1. The unit cost of $25-30 million reported here seems to be a lot lower than what India is paying for. Is that because we are also getting missiles with it?

2. Can the use of this in open ocean avoid the high attrition seen in the Iran war due to a lower density of ECM and AD?

3. Are any of the naval warfare lessons from the Iran war e.g. aircraft carrier limitations, ISR drone ineffectiveness, the unaccompanied IRIS Dena sinking in shallow waters, relevant to the Indian context? Perhaps the real relevant lesson is the need to protect our industrial infrastructure in Gujarat and Mumbai, seeing as Iran was able to hit ports and airfields in the GCC.

[Manish_Sharma]

Airforce vs Navy:

https://x.com/Chopsyturvey/status/20328 ... 56238?s=20

Lessons from the Hormuz Humiliation: Why India Must Abandon it’s Surface-Fleet Fantasy and Master Choke Points

The most powerful navy in history has just confessed defeat in the 33-kilometre-wide Strait of Hormuz. In March 2026, as the US-Iran war entered its third week, reports revealed that the US Navy has rejected near-daily requests from the global oil industry for escorts through the Strait of Hormuz. Three American supercarriers — Abraham Lincoln, Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush — plus French and British warships sit idle in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Mediterranean. Though their collective military might outguns most nations, none of it can safely escort even a single oil tanker through the narrow corridor. Iranian kamikaze drones, swarms of fast-attack boats, naval mines and coastal anti-ship missiles have turned the tight waterway into a lethal gauntlet. A mere $500 contact mine can cripple a $4-billion destroyer. The best surface radars cannot detect submerged threats, and air power has proven equally ineffective at sweeping shipping lanes.

This is not merely an American failure. It is a warning written in fire for every navy that still dreams of blue-water dominance in the age of aerospace power. For India, staring at a peer competitor across the Indian Ocean, the message is brutally clear: surface ships and aircraft carriers are not assets; they can rapidly become liabilities. In any conflict with China — or even a superpower like the United States — our carriers and destroyers will become expensive coffins the moment hostilities begin. The Indian Ocean is no longer a safe playground for carrier strike groups. It is a contested littoral where geography, not tonnage, decides victory.

India’s naval planners have long chased the Mahanian dream: three carriers, a 175-ship fleet, blue-water power projection from the Gulf of Aden to the South China Sea. INS Vikrant is commissioned; INS Vikramaditya soldiers on; a third carrier is on the drawing board. Billions have been poured into surface combatants that look magnificent during naval reviews but will be dead meat in real war. Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles (DF-21D, DF-26), hypersonic glide vehicles, satellite-linked drone swarms and quiet diesel-electric submarines have turned the Indian Ocean into an anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) killing zone. Even the Americans, with three carrier strike groups, cannot protect a tanker in Hormuz. What chance do our smaller, less-protected surface ships have when the People’s Liberation Army Navy brings the same arsenal into waters closer to its bases?

The recent US-Iran war has laid bare the arithmetic. Surface ships are sitting ducks for air-power assets — land-based missiles, aircraft, drones and mines. A carrier’s air wing is powerful only if it survives the first salvo. In narrow seas or choke points, it becomes a floating bullseye. Mines laid by fast boats or submarines cannot be cleared by Aegis destroyers. Kamikaze UAVs overwhelm point-defence systems. One lucky hit on an Indian carrier group would produce exactly the strategic humiliation Washington is now desperately avoiding. India cannot afford that humiliation; our economy depends on energy flows through the very same ocean.

Fortunately, geography has gifted India a far cheaper and more lethal alternative. Instead of scattering scarce rupees across vulnerable surface fleets, we must concentrate every paise on the natural choke points our island territories already dominate. Four corridors matter above all:
The Malacca Strait approaches, controlled from the Andaman and Nicobar chain.
The Hormuz lesson is merciless but mercifully timely. India’s defence forces must learn it before Chinese missiles teach it to us the hard way. In the 21st-century Indian Ocean, geography is destiny — and surface fleets are dinosaurs. Choke points, submarines, missiles and island bastions are the future. Let us seize it before it is too late

Answer:
https://x.com/JA_Maolankar/status/20338 ... 00289?s=20

On 2nd thoughts
@Chopsyturvey
Sir, this shows extremely amateurish understanding of the seas, trade, choke points and the campaign in the current war. For freedom of speech advocates, can I similarly call out the Rafale Demi-god’s clay feet without being called anti-national?

I sincerely hope this is merely the opinion of an individual and does not reflect the thinking of the Indian Air Force. If not then God help us!

Could any of the “Air Forces”?! Choke points choke. Since in this one scenario all deployed platforms have proved ineffective let’s disband everything. I refuse to spend energy on this ridiculousness - unless it proves to be an institutional opinion. Then we should all be worry

There's further spicy exchanges in comments

[ashthor]

So now China will abandon its it’s "Surface-Fleet Fantasy" and we will shout victory.

[uddu]

Airforce vs Navy:

https://x.com/Chopsyturvey/status/20328 ... 56238?s=20

What's happening in West Asia is not just a Naval war, it can be considered as land warfare as well. The distance between Iran and gulf states is about 200km. So missiles and drones that can go upto 200km can comfortably hit targets on land in Gulf countries the small stretch of Hormuz strait which is 50-80 km wide for Iranian's to strike with such comfort, can be seen as land war. In our case, even Pinaka will be able to strike these small gaps at will. One can't expect Navy to fight on land (in the confines of 50 to 60km of the strait other than risky escort operations for a very short period of time).
A lot of these strikes on Iran have come from U.S Navy aircrafts and also ships and submarines launching Cruise missiles and probably Drones.

3,000 strikes, 43 ships hit: US operations against Iran by the numbers
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/200 ... e-numbers/
Date:March 06, 2026 2:12 pm

[Rakesh]

...

Uddu-ji, please stop requoting entire posts when replying. Many users visit BRF on mobile phone.

Also when posting news articles, please follow the guideline below:

* Title of News Article in Bold
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I have edited your post above.

[uddu]

Rakesh ji, updated as per your suggestions.

[uddu]

https://x.com/IndiainKenya/status/2041863631357329637
@IndiainKenya
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan PVSM AVSM VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, visited Mtongwe Naval Base, Mombasa.

During the visit the Commander in Chief laid a wreath at the Kenya Navy Heroes’ Memorial in honour of brave personnel who made the supreme sacrifice, including during Operation Linda Nchi.

The Vice Admiral also called on Commander Kenya Navy, Maj Gen Paul Otieno, where both sides discussed strengthening India–Kenya maritime cooperation, with focus on maritime security, training exchanges, capability building and maritime domain awareness.

The delegation further visited the Radiology Centre gifted by MoD India to the Kenya Navy, reaffirming India’s commitment to capacity building.

[bala]

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi's At Ran Samvad 2026

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2042233385079439819
@BabonesBhai
Funny ... 'Indonesian Fisherman Catches Chinese Underwater Drone in Key Shipping Strait'

[Manish_P]

Old jungle saying - 'For every one that is caught, there are many who are not'

[uddu]

https://x.com/detresfa_/status/2044718750612492787
@detresfa_
A rare event observed a short while ago: Indian and Pakistani navy vessels are operating just 18 nautical miles apart off the coast of Oman, likely as both countries work to secure their merchant shipping interests amid the West Asia conflict.