The Indian Navy

The Indian Navy, officially known as Bhāratīya Nau Senā, is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces, with its headquarters located in New Delhi. Its core mission is to safeguard India's maritime borders and interests, acting to deter or defeat any threats or aggression against the nation's territory, people, or maritime interests, both in times of peace and conflict. The Navy also plays a crucial role in projecting influence within India's maritime area of interest, furthering the nation's political, economic, and security objectives.

As a blue-water navy, its key services encompass naval warfare, force projection, sealift, and nuclear deterrence. The Indian Navy routinely conducts anti-piracy operations, provides humanitarian aid, and engages in disaster relief efforts. It actively promotes bilateral relations through joint exercises, goodwill visits, and humanitarian missions, operating significantly across regions such as the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and undertaking deployments in the South and East China Seas, as well as the western Mediterranean Sea.

Commanded by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), a four-star admiral, the Indian Navy is led by Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who assumed the role as the 26th CNS on April 30, 2024. The Navy is a significant regional and global maritime power, steadily enhancing its fleet to defend the coastline and assert dominance in the maritime battlespace, with a strong emphasis on indigenous defense capabilities. Recent developments include the delivery of the indigenous stealth frigate Mahendragiri on April 30, 2024, a key milestone in self-reliance for warship construction. Additionally, on May 2, 2026, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) from a naval helicopter. Admiral Tripathi also commenced an official visit to Myanmar on May 2, 2026, to strengthen maritime security and strategic ties.