
Rs 230000000000: Huge amount of money may go waste as India fails to upgrade its diesel-electric submarine; India Navy is now...
New Delhi: In a matter of concern for the Indian Navy, India's plan to enhance the stealth and underwater endurance of its Scorpene-class submarines has been delayed as DRDO's Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system is still not ready. Notably, INS Kalvari, currently under refit, will not get the upgrade due to this setback, making it vulnerable to the submarine hunting radars of China and Pakistan in the Indian ocean. Why next AIP Fitment is now pushed to 2026
The AIP project, approved in 2014, has missed multiple deadlines and is now expected to be ready by mid-2026 for INS Khanderi. Meanwhile, all six Scorpene submarines under Project-75 have been inducted, but lack key stealth capabilities.
Notably, the Indian Navy has inducted six Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines under Project-75, built by Mazagon Dock with French collaboration at a cost of over Rs 23,000 crore. Also, INS Vagsheer was the latest to join in January 2025. However, the absence of advanced stealth features poses a high operational risk to the Indian Navy in case of a naval conflict. India Navy Chief visits headquarters of Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi was apprised of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's (JMSDF) organisational structure, objectives and operational role during his visit to the Fleet Headquarters and the Maritime Operations Centre in Tokyo, on Saturday.
The engagements during the ongoing visit to Japan by the CNS lays the groundwork for deeper cooperation and mutual understanding in common maritime interests between India and Japan.
'Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS, visited JMSDF's Fleet Headquarters and the Maritime Operations Centre – the nerve centre of Japan's maritime domain awareness. He was briefed on the organisation of JMSDF as also the objectives and roles of the Service. The visit and interactions in Japan pave the way for enhanced mutual understanding in key areas of shared maritime interests,' the Indian Navy posted on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
30 minutes ago
- News18
Decoding Modi's Indo-Pacific Strategy: How Ties With Philippines Have Grown
Written By : The timing of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's visit is significant, as the two countries conduct their first joint maritime exercise in the contested South China Sea Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr arrived in India on Monday afternoon, commencing a landmark five-day state visit that exemplifies the transformation of India-Philippines relations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita at Palam Air Force Station, Marcos's arrival coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties and marks the first visit by a Filipino president to India since 2007. The timing is particularly significant, as Indian Navy warships conduct their first-ever joint maritime exercises with Philippine forces in the contested South China Sea. This historic visit reflects Modi's outreach to the Philippines since 2014, focusing on a broader Indo-Pacific vision that combines economic partnerships with security cooperation, moving beyond traditional alliance structures to embrace strategic autonomy. The bilateral relationship showcases Modi's multi-alignment strategy, demonstrating how maritime security cooperation, defence technology transfer, and trade expansion can advance India's pragmatic approach to regional leadership while maintaining strategic independence from great power rivalries. Modi's announcement of the Act East Policy in November 2014 at Myanmar's ASEAN Summit marked a decisive shift in India's approach to Southeast Asia. Unlike the economically focused Look East Policy of 1992, the Act East framework embodied a comprehensive strategy encompassing security, defence, and strategic dimensions alongside commercial interests. This transformation proved particularly significant for the Philippines' relations, which had remained relatively dormant despite seven decades of diplomatic ties established in 1949. The timing of this strategic pivot proved prescient. China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea created space for India to position itself as a balancing power committed to maritime security and a rules-based order. The Act East Policy enabled Modi to leverage India's growing economic strength and defence capabilities to establish meaningful partnerships with ASEAN nations, particularly those facing maritime security challenges. The policy's implementation demonstrated Modi's understanding that effective regional leadership required moving beyond traditional diplomatic rhetoric to concrete action. The transformation from 'Look" to 'Act" signalled India's readiness to assume greater responsibilities in regional security architecture while maintaining its strategic autonomy. This approach laid the foundations for the comprehensive partnership now evident in Marcos's visit, where defence cooperation, economic integration, and strategic coordination converge in a single diplomatic engagement. BREAKTHROUGH: THE 2017 MANILA VISIT Modi's November 2017 visit to Manila was a watershed moment in bilateral relations, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Philippines in 36 years. The visit occurred during the 15th ASEAN-India Summit and 12th East Asia Summit, providing an optimal platform for Modi to demonstrate India's commitment to multilateral engagement. The Manila visit served multiple strategic purposes. It reinforced India's position within ASEAN frameworks at a time when the grouping was celebrating its 50th anniversary and marking 25 years of ASEAN-India dialogue partnership. The visit enabled Modi to engage directly with the Philippines' leadership on shared concerns about maritime security and regional stability. Modi's bilateral meeting with then-President Rodrigo Duterte established personal rapport between the leaders and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation across multiple sectors. The visit also included engagement with the Indian diaspora and business community, reflecting Modi's comprehensive approach to relationship-building that extends beyond government-to-government ties. Modi's presence in Manila alongside leaders from the United States, China, and Russia demonstrated India's emerging status as a major regional player capable of engaging multiple powers simultaneously. THE BRAHMOS PARADIGM The January 2022 BrahMos missile deal represents perhaps the most concrete manifestation of Modi's pragmatic approach to regional partnerships. The $375 million agreement made the Philippines India's first international customer for the advanced supersonic cruise missile system, marking a significant milestone in India's defence export ambitions. Marcos's current visit occurs as the Philippines signals interest in acquiring additional Indian defence systems, including more BrahMos batteries and Akash missile systems. The BrahMos system's specifications — 290-km range, Mach 2.8 speed, and versatility across sea, land, and air platforms — provided the Philippines with a credible deterrent capability in the context of South China Sea tensions. For India, the deal demonstrated the maturation of its defence manufacturing capabilities and willingness to transfer advanced technology to strategic partners. The first batch delivery in April 2024 via Indian Air Force transport aircraft was followed by the sea-based delivery of the second batch. MARITIME SECURITY COOPERATION The August 2025 joint naval exercises between India and the Philippines in the South China Sea marked a qualitative shift from diplomatic engagement to operational cooperation. The bilateral maritime cooperative activity, conducted near the strategically significant Scarborough Shoal, demonstrated both nations' commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and challenging assertive territorial claims. The exercises began just as Marcos departed Manila for Delhi. Unlike previous Passing Exercises (PASSEX), the recent joint exercise demonstrated India's willingness to conduct operations in contested waters. The exercise also aligned with India's MAHASAGAR vision, which emphasises maritime cooperation as a cornerstone of regional stability. Moreover, the establishment of Track-1 Maritime Dialogue mechanisms and regular port visits by Indian naval vessels to the Philippines are signals of deeper institutionalised cooperation aimed at a long-term strategic partnership. TRADE EXPANSION AND INVESTMENT Modi's Philippines strategy achieved remarkable economic success, with bilateral trade growing from $1.89 billion in 2015-16 to $3.53 billion in 2023-24—an 86.6% increase. India maintains a consistent trade surplus, exporting $2.10 billion whilst importing $1.43 billion in 2023-24. Key sectors include pharmaceuticals, where India supplies 12-16% of Philippine imports, plus engineering goods and automotive components. Investment depth reflects genuine integration. Indian companies, including TCS, Infosys, and major pharmaceutical firms, established significant Philippine operations worth $5 billion. Philippine companies like AC Energy reciprocated with strategic Indian investments. Marcos's visit agenda includes business meetings in Delhi and Bengaluru, targeting further expansion. REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT India's humanitarian aid during Philippine natural disasters, COVID-19 assistance, and capacity-building through the ITEC programme—training over 1,000 Filipino professionals—reflects comprehensive engagement. Cultural ties include 8,800 Indian students in Philippine medical colleges and a 70,000-strong diaspora. The Philippines' role as ASEAN-India Dialogue Coordinator (2024-2027) provides Modi a crucial partner for advancing regional agendas. This coincides with India's 2026 BRICS chairmanship, creating multilateral cooperation opportunities. Modi's ASEAN engagement during Brazil's BRICS Summit, including FTA discussions with Malaysia's Prime Minister, demonstrated this approach. top videos View all President Marcos Jr's arrival today, accompanied by joint South China Sea naval exercises, represents the culmination of Modi's systematic India-Philippines transformation since 2014. From the Act East Policy announcement to a comprehensive partnership worth over $3.5 billion annually, this relationship exemplifies strategic autonomy in practice. The BrahMos deal, trade expansion, and naval cooperation demonstrate how shared strategic interests translate into concrete partnerships enhancing both nations' security and prosperity. As Indian warships patrol contested waters alongside Philippine forces whilst leaders chart new cooperation pathways, this approach reflects Modi's understanding that effective 21st-century regional leadership requires balanced relationships, pursuing national interests through mutually beneficial partnerships rather than zero-sum competition. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. tags : the philippines view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 05, 2025, 08:00 IST News opinion Opinion | Decoding Modi's Indo-Pacific Strategy: How Ties With Philippines Have Grown Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


India.com
10 hours ago
- India.com
Rs 230000000000: Huge amount of money may go waste as India fails to upgrade its diesel-electric submarine; India Navy is now...
India's nuclear-powered submarines. (File) New Delhi: In a matter of concern for the Indian Navy, India's plan to enhance the stealth and underwater endurance of its Scorpene-class submarines has been delayed as DRDO's Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system is still not ready. Notably, INS Kalvari, currently under refit, will not get the upgrade due to this setback, making it vulnerable to the submarine hunting radars of China and Pakistan in the Indian ocean. Why next AIP Fitment is now pushed to 2026 The AIP project, approved in 2014, has missed multiple deadlines and is now expected to be ready by mid-2026 for INS Khanderi. Meanwhile, all six Scorpene submarines under Project-75 have been inducted, but lack key stealth capabilities. Notably, the Indian Navy has inducted six Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines under Project-75, built by Mazagon Dock with French collaboration at a cost of over Rs 23,000 crore. Also, INS Vagsheer was the latest to join in January 2025. However, the absence of advanced stealth features poses a high operational risk to the Indian Navy in case of a naval conflict. India Navy Chief visits headquarters of Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi was apprised of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's (JMSDF) organisational structure, objectives and operational role during his visit to the Fleet Headquarters and the Maritime Operations Centre in Tokyo, on Saturday. The engagements during the ongoing visit to Japan by the CNS lays the groundwork for deeper cooperation and mutual understanding in common maritime interests between India and Japan. 'Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, CNS, visited JMSDF's Fleet Headquarters and the Maritime Operations Centre – the nerve centre of Japan's maritime domain awareness. He was briefed on the organisation of JMSDF as also the objectives and roles of the Service. The visit and interactions in Japan pave the way for enhanced mutual understanding in key areas of shared maritime interests,' the Indian Navy posted on X. (With inputs from agencies)
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
14 hours ago
- First Post
India, Philippine navies conduct first joint patrol in South China Sea amid rising tensions with China
Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday read more Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos departed for a state visit to New Delhi. The two-day sail includes three Indian vessels and started Sunday, a day before Marcos left on a trip that will include talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Philippines has heightened defence cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the South China Sea. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beijing claims nearly the entirety of the waterway despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. India's naval vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, arrived in Manila for a port visit late last week. The patrol 'started yesterday afternoon, then it's ongoing up to this moment… the activity at the moment is replenishment at sea,' Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Salgado told AFP. China in response accused Manila of 'drawing in external countries to stir up trouble' in the South China Sea. The joint patrol 'undermines regional peace and stability', said Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson of the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command. He said Beijing had conducted 'routine patrols' in the South China Sea on Sunday and Monday, and remained on 'high alert'. While in India, Marcos is expected to sign pacts in such fields as law, culture and technology, according to foreign affairs assistant secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, but all eyes will be on any potential defence agreements. Before departing Monday, Marcos praised the two countries' 'steadfastness in upholding international maritime law, including the UNCLOS', the UN treaty granting an exclusive economic zone within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) of a country's shores. The Philippines has previously purchased BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India, a weapon which has a top speed of 3,450 kilometres (2,140 miles) per hour. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India, which has engaged in border clashes with China in the Himalayas, is a member of the so-called Quad, a group that includes fellow democracies the United States, Japan and Australia. Beijing has repeatedly alleged that the four-way partnership, first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was created as a way of containing China.