The fact is that Indian Navy always had a big vision but over the years the strength of its combatants has not been able to match its ambitions. While the Navy Headquarters may dream up expeditionary forces like US Navy fleets in future, the present force levels are not anywhere near the requirements. This is partly due to the delays in indigenous warship production as well declining capacities of Russian shipyards, which have been the mainstay of Indian Navy in the past. So while we talk about being the major naval player in the Indian Ocean, we have only a 50 year old aircraft carrier Viraat to rely on if it comes to expeditionary forces. Despite much delays and wrangling over money, the Russians have still to deliver Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and our own indigenous air defence ship is still in the basic stages of development. It is not that the Chinese Navy is very superior, only that India is losing the edge and fast.
Indian Navy: At Sea
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