Indian Navy must stay combat-ready, embrace new technologies: Navy Chief

The Indian Navy must remain combat-ready and adopt emerging technologies to stay future-ready, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said at the conclusion of the four-day biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference on Friday.

Emphasising the Navy’s enduring “obligations” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) , Admiral Tripathi called for a credible and proactive partnership with friendly foreign nations to navigate an increasingly complex maritime security environment. His remarks come amid heightened global tensions, including the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has added volatility to critical sea lanes.

The conference served as a key forum to review the Navy’s operational and materiel preparedness, infrastructure, logistics, and human resource initiatives , alongside an assessment of the prevailing security landscape. Highlighting the evolving geostrategic environment , the Navy Chief pointed to the convergence of simultaneous conflicts, a weakening rules-based order, and rising threats from non-state actors , creating a highly contested maritime domain .

A major outcome of the meeting was the unveiling of the Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy (INMSS), which outlines the force’s roadmap for safeguarding national interests in the maritime domain over the next decade. The strategy is anchored in a realistic assessment of geopolitical shifts, disruptive technologies, defence reforms, and the changing character of warfare, with a focus on emerging capabilities rather than specific platforms such as INS Arighat.

Commanders also deliberated on issues including jointness, capability enhancement, maintenance and refits, multi-domain safety practices, training, foreign cooperation, and indigenisation .

In view of regional instability, discussions also covered naval deployments to secure India’s energy lifelines , with the Navy continuing to escort Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil and natural gas through the Gulf of Oman to ensure safe passage.

The conference remains a crucial platform for aligning naval strategy with national security priorities.