Top 10 naval powers in the world (2025): Where does Indian Navy rank?
Top 10 Powerful and Strongest Navy in the World 2025: Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, there has been a rise in global military expenditure to $2718 billion, with the share of global gross domestic product (GDP) devoted to the military increasing to 2.5 per cent last year.
In addition to air forces and military personnel, having a formidable presence of naval powers is crucial, as it protects a country's shores from threats, deters potential aggressors, and maintains stability and peace in international waters.
The United States Navy continues to dominate as the most powerful naval force in the world, followed closely by China's rapidly expanding People's Liberation Army Navy, Russia, and India, each rapidly modernising and expanding their fleets to enhance strategic reach and maritime dominance
In the 2025 Global Firepower rankings, we look at the strongest navy fleets globally by tonnage, as it offers a more accurate measure of a country's maritime power than simply counting the number of ships.
Source: Global Firepower Rankings 2025
When evaluating naval fleet strength based on the total number of warships and submarines, China has the largest fleet, comprising a total of 700 vessels. The United States follows with 440, and Russia ranks third with 419.
Interestingly, Sweden and Indonesia also make it into the global top five, with fleet strengths of 331 and 308, respectively. This is noteworthy since they rank 42nd and 11th, respectively, in terms of naval tonnage.
The US is the world's leading naval power, with the TrV (True Value Rating) being the highest at 323.9, with Russia and China having significant naval capabilities.
Following the US, China has emerged as a major naval and maritime power, and notably, it leads in the Indo-Pacific region with 319.8 TrV, whereas India ranks a distant second regionally and seventh globally, with a TrV of 100.5.
In the Global Firepower Rankings 2025, following the USA and China, India stands in the 5th position globally, with its fleet total tonnage of 593,603 tonnes, and secures the 6th position with 293 vessels based on fleet strength.
Meanwhile, Pakistan ranks 27th with 121 vessels in terms of fleet strength and 28th with a total tonnage of 111,715 tonnes.
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Time of India
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Chinese brinkmanship challenges Japan and US in East China Sea, Liaoning aircraft carrier sends its fighters near disputed islands
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Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Indian Express
Top 10 naval powers in the world (2025): Where does Indian Navy rank?
Top 10 Powerful and Strongest Navy in the World 2025: Amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, there has been a rise in global military expenditure to $2718 billion, with the share of global gross domestic product (GDP) devoted to the military increasing to 2.5 per cent last year. In addition to air forces and military personnel, having a formidable presence of naval powers is crucial, as it protects a country's shores from threats, deters potential aggressors, and maintains stability and peace in international waters. The United States Navy continues to dominate as the most powerful naval force in the world, followed closely by China's rapidly expanding People's Liberation Army Navy, Russia, and India, each rapidly modernising and expanding their fleets to enhance strategic reach and maritime dominance In the 2025 Global Firepower rankings, we look at the strongest navy fleets globally by tonnage, as it offers a more accurate measure of a country's maritime power than simply counting the number of ships. Source: Global Firepower Rankings 2025 When evaluating naval fleet strength based on the total number of warships and submarines, China has the largest fleet, comprising a total of 700 vessels. The United States follows with 440, and Russia ranks third with 419. Interestingly, Sweden and Indonesia also make it into the global top five, with fleet strengths of 331 and 308, respectively. This is noteworthy since they rank 42nd and 11th, respectively, in terms of naval tonnage. The US is the world's leading naval power, with the TrV (True Value Rating) being the highest at 323.9, with Russia and China having significant naval capabilities. Following the US, China has emerged as a major naval and maritime power, and notably, it leads in the Indo-Pacific region with 319.8 TrV, whereas India ranks a distant second regionally and seventh globally, with a TrV of 100.5. In the Global Firepower Rankings 2025, following the USA and China, India stands in the 5th position globally, with its fleet total tonnage of 593,603 tonnes, and secures the 6th position with 293 vessels based on fleet strength. Meanwhile, Pakistan ranks 27th with 121 vessels in terms of fleet strength and 28th with a total tonnage of 111,715 tonnes.
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The key roles of naval aviation include: FLEET AIR DEFENCE: providing air cover for naval forces beyond the reach of land-based aircraft; STRATEGIC POWER PROJECTION: allowing deployment of air power without needing land bases; ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE: attacking enemy ships with air-launched missiles; SUPPORTING AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE: aiding marine landings and operations inland; and MINE COUNTERMEASURES: using aircraft to detect and clear enemy mines. Naval aviation is crucial for maintaining control of the seas, supporting naval and ground forces, and projecting military power along distant shores. It includes fixed-wing carrier borne squadrons, land-based Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Helicopters and Remotely Piloted Aircraft operated from warships and ashore. And what exactly is an aircraft carrier? An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying, and recovering shipborne aircraft. It allows a naval force to project seaborne air power far from its homeland without having to rely on airfields ashore. Aircraft carriers as part of the Carrier Battle Groups are often the centerpiece of modern naval warfare, with significant strategic and diplomatic influence in deterrence, command of the sea, and air supremacy. Aircraft carriers are also adaptable and survivable airfields that are ready to control the seas, conduct strikes, and manoeuvre across the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. About 50 carriers, operated by the navies of several countries, are currently active around the world. The United States Navy leads with 11 large nuclear powered carriers followed by Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Russia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. What is the history of carrier aviation in India? While Indian naval aviation will celebrate its 72nd anniversary on May 11, 2025, India's carrier aviation began with the commissioning of the INS Vikrant in 1961. Since the 1960s, India has operated four carriers — the INS Vikrant (1961-1997), INS Viraat (1987-2017), INS Vikramaditya (since 2013), and the indigenously built INS Vikrant, which was commissioned in 2022. Through this unbroken period of 64 years, India has operated all major types of aircraft launch and recovery systems and continues to expand its carrier fleet, with future plans for additional indigenous construction. But why does India need aircraft carriers? India requires aircraft carriers for several strategic, military, and geopolitical reasons. 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This provides the desirable scope for interoperability and joint training, as well as for maintenance and safe practices of these assets and their aircrew between the two services. The induction of this very capable aircraft in the coming years is a shot in the arm for the Indian armed forces, and shall ensure continued and enhanced combat capabilities across the full spectrum of India's military might.
