By Chaitali Bag
India’s shipbuilding journey is nothing short of extraordinary, weaving together threads of ancient tradition, unwavering resilience, and cutting-edge modernization. With a coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometers, India has long been a maritime nation, harnessing the vastness of the seas for trade, exploration, and defence. This rich maritime heritage dates back millennia, when ancient seafarers navigated the waters, laying the foundation for a thriving shipbuilding industry that has evolved into a sophisticated powerhouse of innovation today.
As we sail through history, we witness the transformation of India’s shipbuilding from its humble beginnings to a modern industry capable of constructing advanced warships and submarines. The strategic importance of maritime security has propelled India into the spotlight, positioning it as a key player in the Indian Ocean region. The country’s shipyards, once bustling with traditional wooden vessels, now echo with the sounds of high-tech production, where skilled artisans and engineers work hand in hand to craft formidable naval assets.
The present achievements of India’s shipbuilding industry are impressive, with the nation successfully developing indigenous warships that reflect its commitment to self-reliance. The launch of advanced frigates and destroyers showcases India’s ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Moreover, the ambitious submarine development program highlights India’s determination to enhance its underwater capabilities, ensuring that it remains a formidable force in maritime defence.
Historical Legacy: India’s Ancient Shipbuilding and Naval Presence
India’s maritime history dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 3300–1300 BCE), where archaeologists have uncovered evidence of shipbuilding expertise at Lothal, one of the world’s oldest dockyards. Early Indian shipbuilders demonstrated impressive skills in constructing vessels suited for both coastal navigation and long-distance trade, linking India with distant regions such as Mesopotamia and Egypt. By the medieval period, regional powers, especially the Chola dynasty, developed formidable naval capabilities, expanding Indian influence into Southeast Asia. This era saw thriving shipbuilding hubs along the coasts of Odisha, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
However, with the arrival of European colonial powers, India’s indigenous shipbuilding practices were suppressed as colonial interests took precedence. Yet, the Indian shipbuilding legacy endured, ultimately laying the groundwork for India’s modern aspirations to become a naval powerhouse.
Modern Warship-Building: Achievements and Milestones
Following independence in 1947, India embarked on an ambitious journey to revitalize its navy and secure its maritime interests. Recognizing the need for self-reliance in defence, India established major shipyards, including Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). These shipyards became instrumental in developing India’s naval capabilities, supporting both indigenous ship production and international collaboration.
Indigenous Shipbuilding and Notable Projects. One of India’s most notable projects was the INS Vikrant, its first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, launched in 2022 by Cochin Shipyard. Vikrant, a testament to India’s engineering and defence manufacturing capacity, underscores the country’s intent to join the ranks of top maritime nations with aircraft carriers capable of power projection. Alongside Vikrant, India’s Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class guided missile destroyers—products of Project 15A and Project 15B—highlight India’s commitment to producing modern, technologically advanced warships designed for multi-role combat. India’s shipbuilding evolution has also been shaped by Project 75 and Project 75I, both of which focus on building diesel-electric attack submarines. These initiatives, executed with France’s assistance under the Scorpène-class submarines program, represent a significant leap in India’s submarine production capabilities. With advanced sonar and stealth features, these submarines are suited for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, and intelligence missions, strengthening India’s deterrence posture in the region.
The Evolution of India’s Shipbuilding Sector. India’s maritime sector is undergoing a transformative phase, primarily driven by the contributions of two major shipbuilders: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). These establishments have laid a robust foundation for the country’s naval capabilities and broader maritime ambitions.
MDL has cemented its reputation as a pivotal player in constructing warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, successfully delivering over 800 vessels since its inception. This impressive track record not only underscores MDL’s expertise in shipbuilding but also highlights its strategic importance in enhancing national security and maritime operations. Concurrently, CSL stands as India’s largest shipbuilding entity, specializing in offshore vessels, oil tankers, and aircraft carriers. Moreover, CSL possesses the largest ship-repair facility in India, making it an essential component of the nation’s maritime infrastructure.
In addition to these longstanding contributors, the recent announcement by the Adani Group regarding a substantial shipbuilding initiative at Mundra Port marks a significant development in India’s shipbuilding landscape. With a planned investment of Rs 45,000 crore launching in 2024, this initiative aims to position India as a global shipbuilding hub. In the context of global shipyards being fully booked until 2028, Adani’s strategy is to capitalize on the burgeoning demand for eco-friendly vessels. The company targets a market worth $62 billion by 2047, aligning with India’s broader vision of constructing over 50,000 vessels in the coming decades to meet global decarbonization goals.
Other notable players in this evolving sector include Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipbuilding. HSL, with an estimated 18 percent market share, builds a diverse array of vessels, including bulk carriers and offshore supply vessels. On the other hand, L&T, holding a 15 percent market share, emphasizes high-tech defence vessels and offshore platforms.
Advances in Submarine Development. India’s modern submarine program took off with the commissioning of INS Kalvari in 2017, the first of the Scorpène-class submarines. This vessel, along with others in its class, has contributed significantly to India’s underwater fleet, which historically lagged compared to its surface fleet. In addition to diesel-electric submarines, India has pursued nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) under its Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) program, resulting in the commissioning of INS Arihant. This nuclear-powered submarine adds a crucial second-strike capability to India’s strategic arsenal, enhancing its nuclear deterrence and elevating its status as a blue-water navy.
Future Prospects in Warship and Submarine Development
As India solidifies its maritime strategy, future shipbuilding efforts are likely to be characterized by increased automation, technological integration, and further indigenous production. India’s strategic vision for its navy includes developing an even more sophisticated submarine fleet alongside advanced warships and autonomous vessels.
A major trend shaping the future of Indian naval development is the integration of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and other autonomous platforms. Startups such as Tardid, Sagar Defence Engineering, and Robosys are pioneering innovations in this space, producing USVs equipped with AI-based navigation and real-time data analytics, essential for modern naval operations. Tardid offers AI-driven solutions for situational awareness and predictive maintenance, which can help reduce downtime and optimize the operational readiness of naval fleets. Sagar Defence Engineering is developing USVs for tasks such as coastal surveillance and harbour defence, providing the Indian Navy with autonomous assets capable of performing long-duration missions without onboard crews. Robosys focuses on ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions, enhancing India’s coastal defence network with unmanned vessels that can be seamlessly integrated into the naval operational grid.
These autonomous vessels bring strategic advantages such as extended surveillance capabilities, cost-effective patrolling, and reduced risk to human life, particularly in high-risk missions like mine detection and anti-submarine warfare. USVs will serve as crucial assets, providing flexibility and scalability in monitoring India’s extensive maritime borders and protecting critical trade routes.
Future Submarine Development: Expanding Underwater Dominance
India’s submarine program has significant developments in its pipeline, aiming to strengthen underwater dominance through projects such as Project 75I, which focuses on advanced diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. These submarines will be capable of remaining submerged for extended durations, enhancing India’s stealth and endurance in potential conflict zones.
In parallel, India is advancing its nuclear-powered submarine fleet with plans for SSBN and SSN submarines, which will provide the Navy with extended range and endurance capabilities. The expansion of nuclear-powered platforms, such as the Arihant-class submarines and future SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines), will support India’s objectives of becoming a truly blue-water navy, capable of sustained operations in the open ocean. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies, such as quieting systems, advanced sonar, and improved missile capabilities, will further enhance India’s underwater capabilities, particularly against regional competitors.
Strengthening the Role of the Private Sector
The Indian government’s Make in India initiative has catalyzed private sector involvement in defence production. Companies like Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are now integral to India’s shipbuilding and submarine projects, contributing essential components for both surface vessels and submarines. The establishment of defence production corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh has also facilitated new partnerships, enabling private firms to participate more actively in building smaller vessels and offering modular components for larger platforms.
These collaborations represent a shift toward public-private partnerships that not only increase production capacity but also reduce India’s reliance on imports. Furthermore, the creation of indigenous defence production ecosystems opens avenues for export, allowing India to position itself as a viable alternative to established global players.
Technological Innovations and Strategic Challenges
India’s future as a maritime power hinges on its ability to overcome challenges while adopting new technologies that improve operational readiness and capability. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous navigation, stealth technology, and new composite materials are set to play a vital role in India’s naval capabilities. Advances in materials science, such as lighter and more durable composites, will not only improve vessel endurance but also contribute to stealth capabilities. Additionally, AI and data analytics will enhance real-time decision-making, critical in surveillance, navigation, and even predictive maintenance.
For submarines, these technological advances mean quieter, faster, and more resilient underwater vessels that are harder to detect. Stealth-enhanced hull designs, combined with AI-driven threat detection systems, will allow submarines to evade enemy tracking systems effectively. This is particularly significant in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where increased Chinese naval presence heightens the need for advanced underwater surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Strategic and Operational Challenges
While the prospects are promising, India faces hurdles in terms of high raw material costs, technological competition, and the need for continuous R&D investment. The shipbuilding industry must address these challenges by investing in innovation and sustainable production processes, which will be crucial to maintaining India’s maritime edge. Additionally, ongoing collaborations with technologically advanced countries can help India keep pace with global standards and improve its indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
India’s warship and submarine-building journey is one of revival, modernization, and foresight. From ancient maritime traditions to the construction of modern aircraft carriers, destroyers, and nuclear submarines, India’s trajectory demonstrates a commitment to securing its maritime interests and establishing its position as a dominant force in the Indian Ocean.
As India forges ahead, autonomous vessels, USVs, and advanced submarine technologies will play pivotal roles in its naval operations, strengthening the Indian Navy’s reach and resilience. The future promises a maritime force equipped with autonomous capabilities and cutting-edge technology, bridging tradition with innovation to secure India’s waters and regional influence. In the years to come, India’s warship-building and submarine capabilities will not only serve as symbols of national pride but also as pillars of a resilient and self-reliant maritime strategy poised to define India’s legacy on the global stage.
