This issue of SP’s Naval Forces coincides with the Navy Day. As the Chief of the Naval Staff says, in his message, “The Navy Day serves to remind us of the Indian Navy’s most glorious chapter of victory at sea. It showcased the Navy’s ability to influence affairs ashore through decisive actions at and from the sea. Drawing on its illustrious legacy, the Indian Navy today remains steadfast in its resolve to remain Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and a Future Ready force.”

The lead story of this issue is a comprehensive and exclusive interview with Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff with the Navy Chief laying out his vision of Indian Navy modernising its capabilities in accordance with perspective plans to realise a suitable force mix to meet all envisaged missions in the Areas of Interest. CNS details that the future expansion plan includes induction of state-of-the-art Next Generation warships, nuclear powered and conventional submarines, aviation and sub-surface assets, augmentation of autonomous solutions to enhance combat capabilities, and induction of niche technology and equipment to address emergent threats and future challenges.

On January 15, 2025, the Indian Navy marked a significant, milestone with the commissioning of three cutting-edge warships - INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer. The landmark ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at a grand event held at the naval base in Mumbai. This marks a major step towards enhancing India’s maritime defence capabilities and reinforcing its position as a leading maritime power in the region. Manish Kumar Jha reports on the commissioning of the ships.

Naval Aviation is the tip of the offensive spear of the Indian Navy (IN) and has always been at the forefront of all naval operations in peace and war. In his report, Vice Admiral A.K. Chawla analyses that the next 25 years promise to be even more exciting for the Indian Navy’s naval aviation arm as it plans to increase the number of aircraft in its inventory to 500 by 2050 from its current number of around 300 fixed and rotary wing aircraft and UAVs.

India had invited President Probowo Subianto of Indonesia to be the Chief Guest for India’s 76th Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2025. A former Army General and Defence Minister, Subianto was sworn in as the 8th President of Indonesia on October 20, 2024. Indonesia is India’s eighth-largest trading partner. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) reports on The India-Indonesia friendship, which was elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, has now widened the scope of bilateral relations to allow for new collaboration in the realm of defence industry, science and technology etc. The defence relations form a significant pillar to this growing partnership.

SP Guide Publications will have a significant presence at the upcoming Aero India 2025 show in Bengaluru, India from February 10 to 14, 2025. In case you are making it to the show, we look forward to meeting you all at Hall K, Stall No. KS3.2.

Wishing all discerning readers happy reading!