Operation Sindoor demonstrated effectiveness of Navy’s constant readiness paradigm, carrier group constrained Pakistan navy: Admiral Dinesh Tripathi

The Navy chief delivered a lecture titled Indian Navy: Navigating amidst the ongoing flux of geopolitics, technology and tactics.

Speaking about changing global dynamics, Admiral Tripathi said, “The legal and normative scaffolding that once regulated behaviour at sea is under strain as the states are testing the limits of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and increasingly relying on unilateral and informal practices to secure claims. Scholars analysing current disputes note that UNCLOS is being recalibrated in practice, with gaps in enforcement becoming more visible as maritime competition intensifies. As a result of all this, naval powers often find themselves caught between actions that could escalate tensions, inaction that could erode credibility or calibrated responses that risk normalising greyzone competition. This trap, that many maritime powers face now, is what analysts term as defenders’ dilemma. Add to it the aspect of technology that is reshaping the global order.”

On technology, the Navy chief said, “At sea, disruption brought about by technology does not remain abstract. It translates directly into operational behaviour, into the character of naval engagements and into the very geometry of maritime competition. Technology is redefining the maritime domain in dramatic ways.”

Admiral Tripathi said that the global market for autonomous naval vessels was valued at approximately $1.65 billion in 2024 and that it was projected to grow 10 per cent annually till 2034. The Economist magazine estimates that by 2040, about 11 per cent to 17 per cent of the global shipping fleet is projected to be autonomous, signalling a disruptive technological transformation of the maritime domain, he added.

“As these autonomous platforms proliferate, artificial intelligence is becoming the engine that ties them together. On the battlefield, too, AI is reshaping the character of conflict. The military AI market alone was valued at $9.3 billion in 2024 and is growing rapidly as states integrate AI-enabled autonomous targeting, decision aids, and predictive sensing into operations,” he said.

Multiple weapon firings within 96 hours of Pahalgam attack

Speaking about the Indian Navy’s posturing, “I am sure all of you will agree that combat readiness is the raison d’etre of the service and we always prepare for battle even if it is far and few in between. But what has changed now? Today, conflicts are happening without notice, heralding a constant readiness paradigm to our posture and preparedness. Operation Sindoor is a classic example in this regard. This operation demonstrated the Navy’s constant readiness posture, wherein the swift deployment of our platforms, conduct of multiple weapon firings within 96 hours of the Pahalgam dastardly attack, aggressive manoeuvring and pressure of the presence of the carrier battle group in the Northern Arabian Sea ensured that Pakistan Navy remained close to their coast or within their harbours. The state of preparedness displayed by the Navy sent a clear message about India’s capability to protect its interests as well as deliver an overwhelming force from the sea if required.”

Admiral Tripathi said that threats once treated as low-end had changed their shape and scale, adding that even non-state actors were now unleashing violence and firepower earlier associated with states. The non-traditional threat spectrum now involves weapons, tactics and intent that mirror state-level conflicts, he elaborated.

“This necessitates all our units proceeding to sea to be outfitted for combat to the extent feasible, while being prepared for other constabulary and benign roles at sea. So, our units, I have told them, a notice for steam or motoring is a notice for combat,” the Navy chief said.