Thread by @ukshahi

The Indian Navy is the master of the Indian Ocean Region.
Our warships rule blue waters.
The Indian Navy is the only Asian Blue Water Navy considered to be a rank three "multi-regional power projection navy" as per Todd & Lindberg's classification system of World Naval Hierarchy.

A blue-water navy is a maritime force capable of operating globally.
With a capable fleet of warships, aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and a capable domestic warship building industry, Indian Navy has the capability to operate in deep waters in entire Indo Pacific region.

The capable air arm of Indian Navy gives India complete air dominance over the IOR and greatly enhances its anti ship & anti submarine warfare capabilities.
Navy has 260+ aircraft, including 4++ Gen Mig 29K multi role fighters, other attack, recon & multi role aircraft & copters.

The PLA Navy although larger in number of ships is still not a blue water navy in terms of power projection outside backwaters.
Qualitatively, Chinese warships are poor & untested, unlike Indian warships that take part in naval exercises with US, Japan & now Australia every year.

Experts at USNI claim the Chinese Navy is still a brown water navy with serious problems in replenishment & logistics.
But the induction of Shandong aircraft carrier (again poor in quality but huge in size) makes China capable of power projection in international waters of IOR.

In case of India China Conflict, Indian Navy has the capability to block Chinese Ships in the critical shipping lane of Strait of Malacca, located in high influence region of the Indian Navy, just off the Andaman Sea.
80% of Chinese supply lines and trade go through the strait.

Besides having a huge network of its own military bases in Indian Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India is developing strategic naval port in Indonesia at Sabang with enough depth to deploy all kinds of warships including aircraft carriers and submarines there.
eurasiantimes.com/china-warns-in…

The Malacca Strait, connecting Pacific with Indian Ocean is one of the world's most congested shipping choke points because it narrows to only 2.8 km (1.5 nautical miles) wide at the Phillips Channel (close to the south of Singapore).
This is why China wants CPEC so desperately.

When the CPEC becomes operational, China will have complete control of Pakistani port of Gwadar (to which China will have a railways line as well as a highway) and direct access to the Indian Ocean as well as the Suez Canal. China will no longer depend on the Strait of Malacca.

Right now, India can block Chinese trade through Malacca Strait at will. India just has to deploy 20 odd Indian warships at the strait and choke it.
When the alternative route of CPEC becomes operational, blocking the strait won't have that impact anymore.
forbes.com/sites/hisutton…

In a war, the IAF can strike Gwadar too. But it will open a two front war that we may anyways have to fight.
Like the Malacca Strait, the Indian Navy can also blockade Gwadar but it would require a greater effort as the sea is wide and there is no choke point here.

Blocking Gwadar would require a huge fleet and also draw Indian naval assets away from the Strait of Malacca and other missions.
For this purpose and for maintaining its dominance of the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy needs to enhance its strength.

Construction of 2nd Arihant Class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) INS Arighat is complete. INS Arighat is in trial stage. It will be commissioned in 2020 or early 2021, significantly strengthening Indian Navy's strike capabilities.
economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/i…

2 more Arihant Class Submarines are under construction and will be commissioned by 2022-23.
Besides this, three S5 Class of SSBN Submarines, weighing 13000 tonnes, almost double the Arihant Class are also planned. GOI has approved the S5 project. Design & development has begun.

Besides this, India has already signed an agreement with Russia to lease another Akula Class Submarine(Akula Class INS Chakra is already active in Indian Navy). This new Akula Class submarine is expected to be delivered by 2025.

Furthermore, India will have 4 new Kalavari Class (Diesel) Attack Submarines, based on Scorpene Class by mid 2021, taking their number to 6.
Besides this , India is acquiring 6 Project 75 I class diesel electric attack submarines.
In April 2019, an EOI was issued for the same.

Construction of India's 2nd Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant is almost complete at Kochi Shipyard.
With its commissioning by 2023, India will be at par with China in carrier strength.
One more giant 65K tonne indigenous carrier has also got govt approval. It will roll out by 2026-27.

Indian Navy has already launched three Visakhapatnam class stealth guided missile destroyers. Three ships - Visakhapatnam, Mormugao & Imphal will be commissioned in 2 years. Fourth ship is under construction. They will be the largest destroyers to be operated by the Indian Navy.

Besides these, the acquisition, development and commissioning of Nilgiri and Talwar Class of Stealth Guided Missile Frigates, anti submarine warfare corvette, mine countermeasure vessels and very important replenishment ships also have to be completed in time.

The bases that are being built on both the coasts, esp at Karwar & Visakhapatnam are vital.
Induction of K series of indigenous submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) has played a key role in augmenting our naval strength.
Further development of K Series is imperative.

What this also underlines is that Indian Navy is making great strides and is actually a pioneer in Make in India.
We will have our own indigenous world class aircraft carriers, nuclear powered submarines, stealth missile destroyers, frigates, corvettes & weapon systems.

Over next 10 years, India will spend a huge amount of ₹13-14 lac crores (USD 190-200 Billion) over modernization of navy & augmentation of capabilities.We are getting 56 new warships.
Thrust will be to become self reliant in every area from warships to weapon systems production.

Once CPEC is fully operational, China may park its naval fleet in Gwadar.
Chinese presence will increase in Indian Ocean international waters.
With large Indian coastline and multifold naval assets, India will continue to dominate the IOR.
But is CPEC a threat ?
Absolutely YES.

One Small Correction. The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 2 has not been approved till now. A revised proposal for its approval has been sent by the Navy to the government. The approval is pending.