Defence - Indian Navy

India sits astride the major sea routes of the world. It has a coastline of 7,516 km with a total of 1,197 island territories in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. India has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.01 million sq. km. 90 per cent by volume and 77 per cent of total value of India's trade comes from the seas. The resource rich EEZ provides 68 per cent of its oil production and fish production of 2.82 million tonnes. In addition, the entire import of oil and gas comes by the sea.

India's economy and therefore its development is crucially dependent on the sea on account of the critical role of maritime trade as well as oil and gas, fisheries and other mineral resources. The responsibility for the defence and security of these maritime interests and assets devolves upon the Indian Navy.

The Navy is headed by the Chief of the Naval Staff. He is assisted by four Principal Staff Officers, namely, Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Personnel and Chief of Material.

The Navy has three Commands, i.e., Western, Eastern and Southern with their headquarters at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi respectively. Each Command is headed by a Flag Officer Commanding - in - Chief of the rank of Vice-Admiral. The Western and the Eastern Commands are the operational Commands, while the Southern Command is responsible for training. Indian Navy has two fleets, the Western and the Eastern Fleet comprising ships and aircraft, these fleets operate under the Western and the Eastern Commands respectively.

Goa and Arkonnam are the major Naval air bases. In addition, Indian Navy also has air bases at Visakhapatnam, Port Blair and Car Nicobar (Adaman and Nicobar Islands). The major naval bases are located in the three Command Headquarters and other minor naval establishments are in Chennai, Kolkata, Chilka, Lonavala and Jamnagar.

Indian Navy is a three-dimensional force consisting of sophisticated missile capable warships and aircraft. The Indian Naval inventory includes submarines aircraft carrier, guided missile destroyers, frigates and corvettes.

The Indian shipbuilding industry is very advanced and many of the warships are indigenously designed and built. These indigenously built warships with state-of-the-art equipment are of comparable capability with those constructed by the advanced countries. Modern dockyard facilities of the Navy and the PSU shipyards maintain and support the naval forces.

Defence - Indian Navy