Summary
With the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, interest in countries such as India – and their navies – is growing. Ths interest reflects the increasingly important role played by an emerging power asserting its policies in the South Asian arena. This book fills the gap in many people’s knowledge of the India Navy and its strategy. Covering the period from 1947 to the present day, it examines the changes that have occurred in the Indian government’s perception of the utility of sea power. From a period of relative neglect immediately after independence, policies have increasingly begun to reflect the importance of the sea to Indian security. Covering economic, military and political considerations, this study investigates indigenous warship construction from the late 1960s, as well as the acquisition of naval vessels from the erstwhile Soviet Union. Adoption of a defensive naval doctrine proved to be the solution to reluctant government funding, and helped pave the way towards expansion and a more active role for the navy in the struggle for control of the Indian Ocean, where India has become a dominant maritime power.