Navy must build combat-ready force, says Admiral Swaminathan

Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar has called for building a combat-capable naval force that can operate independently while maintaining the flexibility to engage in strategic collaborations with allied countries.

Addressing concerns about India's maritime readiness, Admiral Swaminathan emphasised that Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, does not equate to isolation from the global community. The Navy chief articulated a vision of partnerships forged from a position of strength rather than necessity, enabling India to negotiate terms favourable to its interests.

The Admiral's remarks reflect India's broader defence strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on foreign military platforms and systems while selectively leveraging international partnerships. This approach aims to enhance operational capabilities while maintaining strategic autonomy in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security environment.

The Navy has been progressively expanding indigenous shipbuilding capacity and developing domestically-designed platforms to reduce reliance on imports. Concurrently, India has deepened defence cooperation with key partners including Japan, Australia, and France through multilateral frameworks and bilateral arrangements.