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INS Nirdeshak: Mapping the Depths of India’s Maritime Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
The commissioning of INS Nirdeshak, the second of India’s indigenously built Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ships, on 18 December 2024, is a strategic development that highlights a less-discussed but increasingly critical aspect of naval power: the undersea battlespace.
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Bay of Bengal: India’s Maritime Backyard and the Cost of Alienating the Resident Power
As India continues to strengthen its naval footprint in the region, any effort by Bangladesh to challenge this balance of power risks pushing the smaller nation into vulnerability and irrelevance.
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The Indian Navy Advances QUAD’s Vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
The Indian Navy’s leadership within QUAD, exemplified by its pivotal role in Malabar exercises, reinforces a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. By countering regional threats, fostering maritime cooperation, and addressing non-traditional challenges, India positions itself as a stabilizing force and a key player in advancing shared security and economic objectives across the region.
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The K-4 Missile Test Propels India Towards Nuclear Submarine Self-Reliance
India successfully tested the nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from INS Arighaat, marking a significant leap in its strategic defense capabilities. With a range of 3,500 km, the missile enhances India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence. Coupled with the recent approval of indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs), this development underscores the nation’s push towards maritime self-reliance…
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Beyond SAGAR: Tactical and Operational Insights from India-South Africa Naval Collaborations
India’s relationship with Africa has long been anchored in shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to regional stability. Over recent years, this relationship has taken on a new operational dimension, particularly in the maritime sphere. India is committed to its Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy. As a result, the…
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Unmasking ‘Hegemonic Bully’ China’s ‘Third Sea Force’: The Covert Maritime Militia’s Grey-Zone War
China’s maritime aggression has come to the fore in the recent Sino-Filipino skirmish on the high seas. Given its brutal and overt nature, the development has made the news over the past few days. However, this development is only the tip of the iceberg, reflecting a broader naval design in the hybrid battlespace. Introduction In…
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Thoughts on the Russo-Ukrainian War
Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine devastates the country, its people, and even the world. How far will he go? Does it matter? What matters the most is how the US-led NATO responds to Putin. Back in 1994, in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, Grant Hammond, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategy and Technology at the United States…