By A Correspondent

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has raised fresh concerns over China’s rapid naval build-up and its accelerated delivery of advanced submarines to Pakistan, calling the developments a direct challenge to the regional maritime balance.

Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, on Nov. 20, 2025, stated that the Navy is maintaining “close vigil” and remains fully prepared as Beijing deepens military support to Islamabad at sea.

Pakistan’s Naval Modernisation Plans

Pakistan is set to induct eight Hangor-class diesel-electric submarines under a massive USD 5 billion deal signed with China in 2015, one of the largest defence collaborations between the two countries.

Four submarines are being built in China, and four in Pakistan, with the first launched in April 2024 and two more expected to be rolled out this year.

All eight are expected to enter service between 2022 and 2028, though Pakistan’s naval chief, Admiral Naveed Ashra,f recently indicated that full operational induction is on track for 2026.

A Strategic Shift for India

For India, the Hangor programme represents a major strategic shift. Pakistan’s naval modernisation gained urgency after internal criticism during “Operation Sindoor,” when questions were raised about the country’s readiness amid tensions with India in May 2025.

The new fleet of Chinese-built submarines is expected to significantly strengthen Islamabad’s underwater capabilities, long considered its most potent asymmetric tool against a larger Indian Navy.

Indian Navy’s Recalibration in IOR

Vice Admiral Vatsayan stressed that India is recalibrating in response. “Submarine induction [in Pakistan] will start very soon, but we are monitoring every situation. We know what capabilities we need in anti-submarine warfare,” he said, adding that both tactics and force structure remain under continuous review.

The Indian Navy already operates a mix of nuclear-powered and diesel-electric submarines built indigenously and in partnership with France, Germany, and Russia, but plans are underway to further strengthen this underwater edge.

China’s Growing Naval Strength

The concerns over Pakistan come at a time when China itself is rapidly expanding its naval muscle. The recent commissioning of the Fujian, Beijing’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, marks a major leap for the world’s largest navy.

A report submitted to the US Congress notes that the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has grown to more than 370 warships and is projected to reach 435 by 2030. China also unveiled a drone-carrying amphibious assault ship in 2025, adding to its expanding suite of power-projection platforms.

India’s New Guided-Missile Destroyers Plan

Amid these shifts, India is preparing a major response of its own. The Navy is set to seek government approval for at least five next-generation guided-missile destroyers, envisioned as “smart warships” packed with advanced sensors, weapons, and autonomous technologies.

With an estimated displacement of around 11,000 tonnes, they will be larger and significantly more capable than today’s Visakhapatnam-class destroyers.

“We have worked out a good design and hope to receive Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) this financial year,” Vatsayan said, adding that contracts could be awarded within two years.

Several emerging technologies have already been tested on a trial platform and consolidated for integration into these future surface combatants.

India’s Naval Indigenisation Efforts

The naval modernisation push comes ahead of the Navy’s annual innovation conference, Swavlamban 2025, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will review progress. The force has already placed procurement orders worth INR 1,400 crore for new technologies, with more in the pipeline.

Despite China’s increasingly assertive posture and its deepening military partnership with Pakistan, India’s naval leadership struck a confident tone. “Our own ships under construction will be delivered in the next two years,” Vatsayan said. “We are fully confident about the capabilities that will emerge in the next five to seven years.”

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