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India’s submarine deficit persists as China bolsters Pakistan’s undersea power
The Indian Navy’s self-reliance drive is being undercut by chronic ‘sluggishness’ in procurement, analysts say
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The Indian Navy has marked a milestone with the launch of its first locally made anti-submarine ship, but it still faces a naval capabilities gap compared with arch-rival Pakistan, which is set to acquire potent Chinese-made submarines.
The core issue is New Delhi’s long-standing failure to modernise its conventional submarine fleet, analysts say. This leaves India vulnerable to the new-generation, air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped Hangor-class vessels that Beijing is supplying to Islamabad.
While the new Mahe-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft commissioned on Monday provides a coastal defence boost, its utility is limited to shallow waters, despite being a key part of Delhi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat or “self-reliant” initiative.
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The vessel was built by Kerala-based Cochin Shipyard Limited with more than 80 per cent of its components and equipment sourced from within India.
Its rockets and torpedoes can force a submarine to remain submerged
Atul Kumar, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think tank’s strategic studies programme in Delhi, described the INS Mahe as a capable platform.
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