The Indian Navy on Saturday hosted its annual Chiefs’ Conclave, bringing together current and former Naval leadership to deliberate on the service’s modernization efforts, indigenization goals, and future strategic trajectory. The conclave, held at Nausena Bhawan, was presided over by Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and attended by eight former Chiefs of Naval Staff.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X,’ the Navy highlighted its aim to harness the collective expertise and insights of its former Chiefs. Participants were briefed on key developments, including policy reforms, technological advancements, operational logistics, and long-term perspective plans.
A dedicated session, titled Manthan, facilitated an open exchange of ideas on emerging trends in warfare, maritime strategy, and human resource management in the backdrop of a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
The #IndianNavy Chiefs’ Conclave 2025 was conducted at Naval HQ, #NewDelhi on #08Feb.
The Chiefs’ Conclave 2025 aims to gain from the collective experience and knowledge of the eight former Naval Chiefs who are attending the #Conclave. They were presented with an operational… pic.twitter.com/Mzddni04Nv
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 9, 2025
Strides Toward Self-Reliance
The conclave comes as the Indian Navy is charting an ambitious path to achieve self-reliance by 2047, aligning with India’s centennial celebrations of independence. Central to this vision is enhancing operational readiness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where the Navy continues to face strategic challenges, including China’s growing influence and efforts to uphold a rules-based international order.
In recent weeks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three indigenously built combat platforms—two warships and a submarine—to the nation, underscoring the Navy’s accelerated push for indigenization. Currently, 60 warships are under construction at Indian shipyards, reflecting a robust domestic defence manufacturing capability.
Strategic Acquisitions to Bolster Capability
The Navy is preparing for important acquisitions to enhance its combat capabilities. India is expected to finalize two significant defence deals with France: the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and three additional Scorpene-class submarines. The Prime Minister’s visit to France next week may solidify these contracts.
The deal for the Rafale-M, a twin-engine deck-based fighter designed for sustained maritime operations, is valued at approximately ₹50,000 crore. While these fighters will serve as an interim solution, the Navy is concurrently working on developing its own twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) to meet future requirements.
The additional Scorpene-class submarines, to be built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, will bolster India’s underwater capabilities in the strategically critical IOR. These developments are vital as the Navy seeks to counter regional challenges, particularly from China’s calculated expansion of influence across maritime domains.
Vision 2047
As the Indian Navy steers toward becoming a 21st-century force, the Chiefs’ Conclave served as a critical forum to address the roadmap for modernization, self-reliance, and evolving maritime strategy. With indigenization, operational capability, and strategic foresight at the forefront, the Navy is poised to play a pivotal role in securing India’s maritime future.
Team BharatShakti
