India’s navy has launched a submarine, destroyer and a frigate simultaneously as it eyes growing rivalry with China in the Asia Pacific region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a commissioning ceremony for the domestically built vessels in Mumbai on Wednesday, said his country was “becoming a major maritime power of the world”. His country increasingly sees itself competing with China for strategic influence across South Asia.
“We’re taking a big step towards getting the navy ready for this century,” Modi stated.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the strategic importance previously dominated by the Atlantic Ocean is shifting to the Indian Ocean. Hence, the region is becoming a centre of international rivalry.
Amid this competition, India is pushing to modernise its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and expand its defence industry.
In 2024, India spent a record $15bn on domestic defence manufacturing, according to the Ministry of Defence, an increase of some 17 percent on the previous year.
