Indian Navy: Difference between revisions

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* <abbr>t</abbr>

* <abbr>e</abbr>

| colspan="6" |

| colspan="2" |

| colspan="2" |

| colspan="12" |

| colspan="4" |

| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |

| colspan="8" |'''No insignia'''

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== Naval Air Arm ==

[[File:Dornier Do 228 of the Indian Navy.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Indian Navy Dornier 228 flying over Island territory.]]

The naval air-arm of the Indian Navy currently operates twenty-one air squadrons. Of these, ten operate fixed-wing aircraft, eight are helicopter squadrons and the remaining three are equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Building on the legacy inherited from the Royal Navy prior to Indian independence, the concept of naval aviation in India started with the establishment of Directorate of Naval Aviation at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in early 1948. Later that year officers and sailors from the Indian Navy were sent to Britain for pilot training. In 1951, the Fleet Requirement Unit (FRU) was formed to meet the aviation requirements of the navy.

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Currently the air arm operates an aircraft carrier INS ''Vikramaditya'' with ability to carry over thirty aircraft including MiG 29K, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King and domestic-built HAL-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. The Kamov-31 choppers also provide the airborne early warning cover for the fleet. In the anti-submarine role, the Sea King, Ka-28, and the domestic built HAL Dhruv are used. The MARCOSalso use Sea King and HAL Dhruv helicopters while conducting operations. Maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations are carried out by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon and the Ilyushin 38. Indian Navy is also procuring 24 Lockheed Martin MH-60R Multi Role Helicopters under the foreign military sales from the US.

[[File:HAL Dhruv during special operation.jpg|thumb|300x300px|HAL Dhruv during special operation]]

The UAV arm consists of the IAI Heron and Searcher-IIs that are operated from both surface ships and shore establishments for surveillance missions.

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=== Ships ===

[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Vikramaditya (R33) during joint exercise.jpg|center|thumb|900x900px|Aircraft carriers INS ''Vikramaditya'' and INS ''Vikrant'']]

[[File:Imphal Y-12706 launching Brahmos during trials (cropped).jpg|thumb|INS Imphal (D68) firing BrahMosExtended Range supersonic cruise missile.]]

The names of all in service ships and naval bases of the Indian Navy are prefixed with the letters '''INS''', designating ''Indian Naval Ship'' or ''Indian Navy Station'', whereas the sail boats are prefixed with INSV (Indian Naval Sailing Vessel). The fleet of the Indian Navy is a mixture of domestic built and foreign vessels, as of May 2025, the surface fleet comprises 2 aircraft carriers, 1 amphibious transport dock, 4 landing ship tanks, 13 destroyers, 15 frigates, 20 corvettes,10 large offshore patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers, 7 Survey ships, 1 research vessel, 3 training vessels and various auxiliary vessels, Landing Craft Utility vessels, and small patrol boats.

[[File:INS Nilgiri, INS Surat and INS Vagsheer during commissioning ceremony.jpg|thumb|Glimpses of commissioning of three frontline naval combatants - INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer]]

The Navy has two aircraft carriers in active service, one of which is the INS ''Vikramaditya'', which serves as the flagship of the fleet. ''Vikramaditya'' (formerly ''Admiral Gorshkov'') is a modified ''Kiev''-class aircraft carrier procured at a total cost $2.3 billion from Russia in December 2013. A second aircraft carrier, the indigenously built INS ''Vikrant'' was commissioned on 2 September 2022. The Navy has an amphibious transport dock of the ''Austin'' class, renamed as INS ''Jalashwa'' in Indian service. It also maintains a fleet of landing ship tanks.

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==== Submarines ====

[[File:INS Shakti A57.jpg|thumb|INS ''Shakti'', a ''Deepak''-class fleet tanker]]

As of August 2024, the Navy's sub-surface fleet includes three Arihant-class SSBN 17 conventionally-powered attack submarines. The conventional attack submarines of the Indian Navy consist of six ''Kalvari'' (French Scorpène-class submarine design), seven ''Sindhughosh'' (Russian Kilo-class submarine design), and the four ''Shishumar'' (German Type 209/1500 design) classes.

India previously possessed a single Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine named INS ''Chakra''. She was leased to India for a period of ten years, between 2012 and 2021. Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines. Negotiations are on with Russia for the lease of the second Akula-class submarine.

[[File:INS Kalvari (S21) at sea.jpg|thumb|INS ''Kalvari'', conventional submarine of the Indian Navy]]

INS ''Arihant'' was launched on 26 July 2009 in Visakhapatnam, and was secretly commissioned into active service in August 2016. The Navy plans to have six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in service in the near future. ''Arihant'' is both the first boat of the ''Arihant''-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and the first nuclear-powered submarine to be built in India.

[[File:2560px-An Indian Navy MIG-29K Fulcrum flies over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during Exercise Malabar 2017.jpg|thumb|MiG-29K operates from aircraft carriers]]

India is planning to entirely modernise its submarine fleet. Initially, it was planned that 24 conventionally powered attack submarine would be acquired. First 12 submarines (6 Project 75 and 6 Project 75I) would be inducted by 2012 and the next 12 indigenous Project 76 submarines would be inducted by 2030. However, this was revised in 2015. Now, the planned numbers stand at 4 SSBNs, 6 SSNs and 18 conventionally powered attack submarines. The clearance for Project 75 Alpha submarines was approved by the Government on 18 February 2024. As of August 2024, the Navy's planned acquisitions of submarines include :–

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* 6 Project 75I-class (Field Evaluation Phase) and

* 12 indigenous Project 76 submarines

[[File:Boeing P-8I of the Indian Navy (modified).jpg|thumb|Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft armed with the AGM-84 Harpoon]]

=== Aircraft ===

This section is an excerpt from List of active Indian military aircraft § Naval Air Arm.

[[File:Indian Navy Kamov Ka-31 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Kamov Ka-31 naval helicopter]]

[[File:Maiden flight test of indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from an Indian Navy Sea King helicopter at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on 18 May 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sea King WS-61 of the Indian Navy launches a NASM-SR]]

The air arm of the Indian Navy was established in 1948. The navy operates 26 air squadrons stationed across eight naval air stations that operate under the flag officers of the various naval commands.The air arm maintains a fleet of combat and maritime patrol aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

{| class="wikitable sortable"

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=== Weapon systems ===

The Navy use a mix of indigenously developed and foreign made missile systems. These include submarine-launched ballistic missiles, ship-launched ballistic missiles, cruise and anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, air-to-air guns, main guns and anti-submarine rocket launchers. Its inventory comprises 100 mm (3.9 in) AK 190 gun with a range of 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi), 130 kilometres (81 mi) KH-35E 4 Quad Uran, ASW RBU-2000 etc.

[[File:VLSRSAM.jpg|thumb|VL-SRSAM fired from Naval ship will replace Barak-1 in service.]]

In recent years, BrahMos has been one of the most advanced missile system adapted by the Indian Navy. It has been jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya. BrahMos is the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation.The BrahMos has been tailored to meet Indian needs and features a large proportion of India-designed components and technology, including its fire control systems, transporter erector launchers, and its onboard navigational attack systems. The successful test of Brahmos from INS ''Rajput'' provides Indian Navy with precision land attack capability.

[[File:Shakti Thermal Torpedo.jpg|thumb|Shakti Thermal Torpedo]]

India has also fitted its Boeing P-8I reconnaissance aircraft with all-weather, active-radar-homing, over-the-horizon AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and Mk 54 All-Up-Round Lightweight Torpedoes. Indian warships' primary air-defence shield is provided by Barak 1 surface-to-air missile while an advanced version Barak 8 is in development in collaboration with Israel. India's next-generation Scorpène-classsubmarines will be armed with Exocet anti-ship missile system. Among indigenous missiles, ship-launched version of Prithvi-II is called Dhanush, which has a range of 350 kilometres (220 mi) and can carry nuclear warheads.

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== Activities ==

[[File:President's Standard and Color unveliling highlighting India's glorious maritime heritage.jpg|thumb|President of India taking salute unveiling Indian Navy's Standard and Color highlighting India's maritime heritage]]

=== Fleet reviews ===

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=== Naval exercises ===

[[File:Milan 2024 Sailing together.jpg|thumb|''Milan'' exercise 2024 grows in size with 50 foreign countries participating from 4 in 1995]]

[[File:INS Kamorta (P28) participating in the International Fleet Review 2022.jpg|thumb|INS ''Kamorta'' in Japan for International fleet review]]

India often conducts naval exercises (like Maritime Partnership Exercise) with other friendly countries designed to increase naval cooperation and also to strengthen cooperative security relationship. Some such exercises take place annually or biennially:

{| class="wikitable"

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=== Exploration ===

[[File:Indian Navy Destroyers sailing together.jpg|thumb|Indian Navy's destroyers sailing in unison during Exercise Tropex 2025]]

The Indian Navy regularly conducts adventure expeditions. The sailing ship and training vessel INS ''Tarangini'' began circumnavigating the world on 23 January 2003, intending to foster good relations with various other nations; she returned to India in May 2004 after visiting 36 ports in 18 nations.

Lt. Cdr. M. S. Kohli led the Indian Navy's first successful expedition to Mount Everest in 1965; the Navy's ensign was again flown atop Everest on 19 May 2004 by a similar expedition. Another Navy team also successfully scaled Everest from the north face, a technically more challenging route. The expedition was led by Cdr Satyabrata Dam of the submarine arm. Cdr. Dam is a mountaineer of international repute and has climbed many mountains including the Patagonias, the Alps among others.In 2017, to commemorate 50 years of the Navy's first expedition in 1965, a team set off to climb Mount Everest.

[[File:NavikaSagarParikrama II with Tarini - Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa crossed Point Nemo.jpg|thumb|Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa crossed Point Nemo in INSV ''Tarini'', during their Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition]]

An Indian Navy team comprising 11 members successfully completed an expedition to the Arctic pole. To prepare, they first traveled to Iceland, where they attempted to summit a peak. The team next flew to eastern Greenland; in the Kulusuk and Angmassalik areas, they used Inuit boats to navigate the region's ice-choked fjords. They crossed northward across the Arctic Circle, reaching seventy degrees North on skis. The team scaled an unnamed peak of height 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and named it ''Indian Peak''.

Line 744:

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== Future of the Indian Navy ==

By the end of the 14th Plan (2020), the Indian Navy was expected to have over 150 ships and close to 500 aircraft. In addition to the existing mission of securing both sea flanks in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the navy was tasked with responding to emergencies far away from the Indian mainland. Marine assault capabilities were to be enhanced by setting up a new amphibious warfare facility at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

[[File:Indian Navy's HAL TEDBF.jpg|thumb|HAL TEDBF will replace the MiG-29Ks in service.]]

Since then, the Indian Navy has initiated Phase II expansion of INS Kadamba, its third largest naval base, near Karwar. Phase II will involve expansion of the berthing facilities to accommodate 40–45 more front-line warships, including the aircraft carrier INS ''Vikramaditya'', raise manpower to 300 officers and around 2,500 sailors, and build a naval air station with a 6,000-foot runway. This is to be followed by Phase IIA and IIB, at the end of which INS Kadamba will be able to base 50 front-line warships. The Indian Navy is also in the process of constructing a new naval base, INS Varsha, at Rambilli for its Arihant class submarines.

[[File:Hypersonic LRASHM.jpg|thumb|249x249px|Hypersonic LRAShMundergoing tests]]

India's planned second aircraft carrier, INS ''Vishal'' (formerly known as ''Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-II''), will displace around 65,000 tonnes and is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in the mid-2030s. With the future delivery of ''Vishal'', the Navy's goal to have three aircraft carriers in service, with two fully operational carriers and a third in refit, will be achieved.

Line 756:

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== Indian Naval Ensign ==

The Indian Navy from 1950 to 2001 used a modified version of the British White Ensign, with the Union flag replaced with the Indian Tricolour in the canton. In 2001, this flag was replaced with a white ensign bearing the Indian Navy crest, as the previous ensign was thought to reflect India's colonial past. However complaints arose that the new ensign was indistinguishable as the blue of the naval crest easily merged with the sky and the ocean. Hence in 2004, the ensign was changed back to the St. George's cross design, with the addition of the emblem of India in the intersection of the cross. In 2014, the ensign as well as the naval crest was further modified to include the Devanagari script: ''सत्यमेव जयते'' (Satyameva Jayate) which means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' in Sanskrit.

[[File:Seal of Shivaji.jpg|thumb|308x308px|The ''rajmudra'' (seal) used by Shivaji I.]]

The Indian Navy from 1950 to 2001 used a modified version of the British White Ensign, with the Union flag replaced with the Indian Tricolour in the canton. In 2001, this flag was replaced with a white ensign bearing the Indian Navy crest, as the previous ensign was thought to reflect India's colonial past. However complaints arose that the new ensign was indistinguishable as the blue of the naval crest easily merged with the sky and the ocean. Hence in 2004, the ensign was changed back to the St. George's cross design, with the addition of the emblem of India in the intersection of the cross. In 2014, the ensign as well as the naval crest was further modified to include the Devanagari script: ''सत्यमेव जयते'' (Satyameva Jayate) which means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' in Sanskrit.\

The traditional crest of Indian Navy ships is topped by a crown featuring three sailing ships symbolising India's rich maritime history. The ribbon of the crown depicts the Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a horse and a bull. Each ship has a unique motif which is encircled by a ring of lotus buds.

@@ Line 336: / Line 336: @@
 * <abbr>t</abbr>
 * <abbr>e</abbr>
-| colspan="6" |
+| colspan="6" |[[File:India-Navy-OR-9.svg.png|center|frameless|100x100px]]
-| colspan="2" |
+| colspan="2" |[[File:India-Navy-OR-8.svg.png|center|frameless|100x100px]]
-| colspan="2" |
+| colspan="2" |[[File:India-Navy-OR-7.svg.png|center|frameless|100x100px]]
-| colspan="12" |
+| colspan="12" |[[File:PO Indian Navy.svg.png|center|frameless|79x79px]]
-| colspan="4" |
+| colspan="4" |[[File:Leading Seaman Indian Navy.svg.png|center|frameless|79x79px]]
 | colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
 | colspan="8" |'''No insignia'''
@@ Line 386: / Line 386: @@
 == Naval Air Arm ==
+[[File:Dornier Do 228 of the Indian Navy.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Indian Navy Dornier 228 flying over Island territory.]]
 The naval air-arm of the Indian Navy currently operates twenty-one air squadrons. Of these, ten operate fixed-wing aircraft, eight are helicopter squadrons and the remaining three are equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Building on the legacy inherited from the Royal Navy prior to Indian independence, the concept of naval aviation in India started with the establishment of Directorate of Naval Aviation at Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in early 1948. Later that year officers and sailors from the Indian Navy were sent to Britain for pilot training. In 1951, the Fleet Requirement Unit (FRU) was formed to meet the aviation requirements of the navy.
@@ Line 391: / Line 392: @@
 Currently the air arm operates an aircraft carrier INS ''Vikramaditya'' with ability to carry over thirty aircraft including MiG 29K, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King and domestic-built HAL-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. The Kamov-31 choppers also provide the airborne early warning cover for the fleet. In the anti-submarine role, the Sea King, Ka-28, and the domestic built HAL Dhruv are used. The MARCOSalso use Sea King and HAL Dhruv helicopters while conducting operations. Maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations are carried out by the Boeing P-8 Poseidon and the Ilyushin 38. Indian Navy is also procuring 24 Lockheed Martin MH-60R Multi Role Helicopters under the foreign military sales from the US.
+[[File:HAL Dhruv during special operation.jpg|thumb|300x300px|HAL Dhruv during special operation]]
 The UAV arm consists of the IAI Heron and Searcher-IIs that are operated from both surface ships and shore establishments for surveillance missions.
@@ Line 399: / Line 401: @@
 === Ships ===
+[[File:INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Vikramaditya (R33) during joint exercise.jpg|center|thumb|900x900px|Aircraft carriers INS ''Vikramaditya'' and INS ''Vikrant'']]
+[[File:Imphal Y-12706 launching Brahmos during trials (cropped).jpg|thumb|INS Imphal (D68) firing BrahMosExtended Range supersonic cruise missile.]]
 The names of all in service ships and naval bases of the Indian Navy are prefixed with the letters '''INS''', designating ''Indian Naval Ship'' or ''Indian Navy Station'', whereas the sail boats are prefixed with INSV (Indian Naval Sailing Vessel). The fleet of the Indian Navy is a mixture of domestic built and foreign vessels, as of May 2025, the surface fleet comprises 2 aircraft carriers, 1 amphibious transport dock, 4 landing ship tanks, 13 destroyers, 15 frigates, 20 corvettes,10 large offshore patrol vessels, 4 fleet tankers, 7 Survey ships, 1 research vessel, 3 training vessels and various auxiliary vessels, Landing Craft Utility vessels, and small patrol boats.
+[[File:INS Nilgiri, INS Surat and INS Vagsheer during commissioning ceremony.jpg|thumb|Glimpses of commissioning of three frontline naval combatants - INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer]]
 The Navy has two aircraft carriers in active service, one of which is the INS ''Vikramaditya'', which serves as the flagship of the fleet. ''Vikramaditya'' (formerly ''Admiral Gorshkov'') is a modified ''Kiev''-class aircraft carrier procured at a total cost $2.3 billion from Russia in December 2013. A second aircraft carrier, the indigenously built INS ''Vikrant'' was commissioned on 2 September 2022. The Navy has an amphibious transport dock of the ''Austin'' class, renamed as INS ''Jalashwa'' in Indian service. It also maintains a fleet of landing ship tanks.
@@ Line 408: / Line 412: @@
 ==== Submarines ====
+[[File:INS Shakti A57.jpg|thumb|INS ''Shakti'', a ''Deepak''-class fleet tanker]]
 As of August 2024, the Navy's sub-surface fleet includes three Arihant-class SSBN 17 conventionally-powered attack submarines. The conventional attack submarines of the Indian Navy consist of six ''Kalvari'' (French Scorpène-class submarine design), seven ''Sindhughosh'' (Russian Kilo-class submarine design), and the four ''Shishumar'' (German Type 209/1500 design) classes.
 India previously possessed a single Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine named INS ''Chakra''. She was leased to India for a period of ten years, between 2012 and 2021. Three hundred Indian Navy personnel were trained in Russia for the operation of these submarines. Negotiations are on with Russia for the lease of the second Akula-class submarine.
+[[File:INS Kalvari (S21) at sea.jpg|thumb|INS ''Kalvari'', conventional submarine of the Indian Navy]]
 INS ''Arihant'' was launched on 26 July 2009 in Visakhapatnam, and was secretly commissioned into active service in August 2016. The Navy plans to have six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines in service in the near future. ''Arihant'' is both the first boat of the ''Arihant''-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and the first nuclear-powered submarine to be built in India.
+[[File:2560px-An Indian Navy MIG-29K Fulcrum flies over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during Exercise Malabar 2017.jpg|thumb|MiG-29K operates from aircraft carriers]]
 India is planning to entirely modernise its submarine fleet. Initially, it was planned that 24 conventionally powered attack submarine would be acquired. First 12 submarines (6 Project 75 and 6 Project 75I) would be inducted by 2012 and the next 12 indigenous Project 76 submarines would be inducted by 2030. However, this was revised in 2015. Now, the planned numbers stand at 4 SSBNs, 6 SSNs and 18 conventionally powered attack submarines. The clearance for Project 75 Alpha submarines was approved by the Government on 18 February 2024. As of August 2024, the Navy's planned acquisitions of submarines include :–
@@ Line 422: / Line 427: @@
 * 6 Project 75I-class (Field Evaluation Phase) and
 * 12 indigenous Project 76 submarines
+[[File:Boeing P-8I of the Indian Navy (modified).jpg|thumb|Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft armed with the AGM-84 Harpoon]]
 === Aircraft ===
 This section is an excerpt from List of active Indian military aircraft § Naval Air Arm.
+[[File:Indian Navy Kamov Ka-31 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Kamov Ka-31 naval helicopter]]
+[[File:Maiden flight test of indigenously developed Naval Anti-Ship Missile launched from an Indian Navy Sea King helicopter at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on 18 May 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sea King WS-61 of the Indian Navy launches a NASM-SR]]
 The air arm of the Indian Navy was established in 1948. The navy operates 26 air squadrons stationed across eight naval air stations that operate under the flag officers of the various naval commands.The air arm maintains a fleet of combat and maritime patrol aircraft, various helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
@@ Line 562: / Line 569: @@
 === Weapon systems ===
 The Navy use a mix of indigenously developed and foreign made missile systems. These include submarine-launched ballistic missiles, ship-launched ballistic missiles, cruise and anti-ship missiles, air-to-air missiles, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, air-to-air guns, main guns and anti-submarine rocket launchers. Its inventory comprises 100 mm (3.9 in) AK 190 gun with a range of 21.5 kilometres (13.4 mi), 130 kilometres (81 mi) KH-35E 4 Quad Uran, ASW RBU-2000 etc.
+[[File:VLSRSAM.jpg|thumb|VL-SRSAM fired from Naval ship will replace Barak-1 in service.]]
 In recent years, BrahMos has been one of the most advanced missile system adapted by the Indian Navy. It has been jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya. BrahMos is the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation.The BrahMos has been tailored to meet Indian needs and features a large proportion of India-designed components and technology, including its fire control systems, transporter erector launchers, and its onboard navigational attack systems. The successful test of Brahmos from INS ''Rajput'' provides Indian Navy with precision land attack capability.
+[[File:Shakti Thermal Torpedo.jpg|thumb|Shakti Thermal Torpedo]]
 India has also fitted its Boeing P-8I reconnaissance aircraft with all-weather, active-radar-homing, over-the-horizon AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and Mk 54 All-Up-Round Lightweight Torpedoes. Indian warships' primary air-defence shield is provided by Barak 1 surface-to-air missile while an advanced version Barak 8 is in development in collaboration with Israel. India's next-generation Scorpène-classsubmarines will be armed with Exocet anti-ship missile system. Among indigenous missiles, ship-launched version of Prithvi-II is called Dhanush, which has a range of 350 kilometres (220 mi) and can carry nuclear warheads.
@@ Line 584: / Line 591: @@
 == Activities ==
+[[File:President's Standard and Color unveliling highlighting India's glorious maritime heritage.jpg|thumb|President of India taking salute unveiling Indian Navy's Standard and Color highlighting India's maritime heritage]]
 === Fleet reviews ===
@@ Line 591: / Line 599: @@
 === Naval exercises ===
+[[File:Milan 2024 Sailing together.jpg|thumb|''Milan'' exercise 2024 grows in size with 50 foreign countries participating from 4 in 1995]]
+[[File:INS Kamorta (P28) participating in the International Fleet Review 2022.jpg|thumb|INS ''Kamorta'' in Japan for International fleet review]]
 India often conducts naval exercises (like Maritime Partnership Exercise) with other friendly countries designed to increase naval cooperation and also to strengthen cooperative security relationship. Some such exercises take place annually or biennially:
 {| class="wikitable"
@@ Line 732: / Line 742: @@
 === Exploration ===
+[[File:Indian Navy Destroyers sailing together.jpg|thumb|Indian Navy's destroyers sailing in unison during Exercise Tropex 2025]]
 The Indian Navy regularly conducts adventure expeditions. The sailing ship and training vessel INS ''Tarangini'' began circumnavigating the world on 23 January 2003, intending to foster good relations with various other nations; she returned to India in May 2004 after visiting 36 ports in 18 nations.
 Lt. Cdr. M. S. Kohli led the Indian Navy's first successful expedition to Mount Everest in 1965; the Navy's ensign was again flown atop Everest on 19 May 2004 by a similar expedition. Another Navy team also successfully scaled Everest from the north face, a technically more challenging route. The expedition was led by Cdr Satyabrata Dam of the submarine arm. Cdr. Dam is a mountaineer of international repute and has climbed many mountains including the Patagonias, the Alps among others.In 2017, to commemorate 50 years of the Navy's first expedition in 1965, a team set off to climb Mount Everest.
+[[File:NavikaSagarParikrama II with Tarini - Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa crossed Point Nemo.jpg|thumb|Lt Cdr Dilna K & Lt Cdr Roopa crossed Point Nemo in INSV ''Tarini'', during their Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition]]
 An Indian Navy team comprising 11 members successfully completed an expedition to the Arctic pole. To prepare, they first traveled to Iceland, where they attempted to summit a peak. The team next flew to eastern Greenland; in the Kulusuk and Angmassalik areas, they used Inuit boats to navigate the region's ice-choked fjords. They crossed northward across the Arctic Circle, reaching seventy degrees North on skis. The team scaled an unnamed peak of height 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and named it ''Indian Peak''.
@@ Line 744: / Line 755: @@
 == Future of the Indian Navy ==
 By the end of the 14th Plan (2020), the Indian Navy was expected to have over 150 ships and close to 500 aircraft. In addition to the existing mission of securing both sea flanks in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the navy was tasked with responding to emergencies far away from the Indian mainland. Marine assault capabilities were to be enhanced by setting up a new amphibious warfare facility at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
+[[File:Indian Navy's HAL TEDBF.jpg|thumb|HAL TEDBF will replace the MiG-29Ks in service.]]
 Since then, the Indian Navy has initiated Phase II expansion of INS Kadamba, its third largest naval base, near Karwar. Phase II will involve expansion of the berthing facilities to accommodate 40–45 more front-line warships, including the aircraft carrier INS ''Vikramaditya'', raise manpower to 300 officers and around 2,500 sailors, and build a naval air station with a 6,000-foot runway. This is to be followed by Phase IIA and IIB, at the end of which INS Kadamba will be able to base 50 front-line warships. The Indian Navy is also in the process of constructing a new naval base, INS Varsha, at Rambilli for its Arihant class submarines.
+[[File:Hypersonic LRASHM.jpg|thumb|249x249px|Hypersonic LRAShMundergoing tests]]
 India's planned second aircraft carrier, INS ''Vishal'' (formerly known as ''Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-II''), will displace around 65,000 tonnes and is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in the mid-2030s. With the future delivery of ''Vishal'', the Navy's goal to have three aircraft carriers in service, with two fully operational carriers and a third in refit, will be achieved.
@@ Line 756: / Line 767: @@
 == Indian Naval Ensign ==
-The Indian Navy from 1950 to 2001 used a modified version of the British White Ensign, with the Union flag replaced with the Indian Tricolour in the canton. In 2001, this flag was replaced with a white ensign bearing the Indian Navy crest, as the previous ensign was thought to reflect India's colonial past. However complaints arose that the new ensign was indistinguishable as the blue of the naval crest easily merged with the sky and the ocean. Hence in 2004, the ensign was changed back to the St. George's cross design, with the addition of the emblem of India in the intersection of the cross. In 2014, the ensign as well as the naval crest was further modified to include the Devanagari script: ''सत्यमेव जयते'' (Satyameva Jayate) which means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' in Sanskrit.
+[[File:Seal of Shivaji.jpg|thumb|308x308px|The ''rajmudra'' (seal) used by Shivaji I.]]
+The Indian Navy from 1950 to 2001 used a modified version of the British White Ensign, with the Union flag replaced with the Indian Tricolour in the canton. In 2001, this flag was replaced with a white ensign bearing the Indian Navy crest, as the previous ensign was thought to reflect India's colonial past. However complaints arose that the new ensign was indistinguishable as the blue of the naval crest easily merged with the sky and the ocean. Hence in 2004, the ensign was changed back to the St. George's cross design, with the addition of the emblem of India in the intersection of the cross. In 2014, the ensign as well as the naval crest was further modified to include the Devanagari script: ''सत्यमेव जयते'' (Satyameva Jayate) which means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' in Sanskrit.\
 The traditional crest of Indian Navy ships is topped by a crown featuring three sailing ships symbolising India's rich maritime history. The ribbon of the crown depicts the Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a horse and a bull. Each ship has a unique motif which is encircled by a ring of lotus buds.