List of Indian Navy Ships, Complete Guide to India’s Maritime Strength

List of Indian Navy Ships: The Indian Navy, the maritime arm of the nation’s armed forces, currently operates a fleet of more than 135 active warships. Its key assets include an aircraft carrier fleet—it has commissioned four carriers since 1961—along with a strategic submarine force and an amphibious wing that often takes the lead in humanitarian missions. 

However, the Navy continues to face certain gaps in its arsenal, such as the absence of dedicated mine countermeasure vessels and a relatively limited number of attack submarines.

The Indian Navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP), covering the period 2012–2027, had initially envisioned expanding the fleet to around 250 warships by 2035. However, more recent assessments suggest that by 2030, the Navy is likely to field a force of roughly 155 to 160 vessels instead.

List of Indian Navy Ships

In the table below, we have summarised the List of Indian Navy Ships based on sailing ships, Aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, etc.

Indian Navy Ship Classification

The Indian Navy operates a diverse fleet of warships, built both indigenously and in collaboration with global partners. Below is a glimpse of the List of Indian Navy Ships. The classification of navy ships is based on their roles, tonnage, and design. Major categories include:

• Aircraft Carriers – Large floating airbases.
  
  

• Destroyers – Frontline warships for offensive and defensive operations.
  
  

• Frigates – Escort and multi-purpose ships.
  
  

• Corvettes – Lightweight warships for coastal operations.
  
  

• Submarines – Underwater vessels for stealth attacks.

Indian Navy Destroyers and Frigates

Among the most powerful ships in the fleet are destroyers and frigates.

• Destroyers such as INS Kolkata, INS Chennai, and INS Delhi are armed with advanced missiles and radar systems.

• Frigates like INS Shivalik and INS Satpura serve as versatile warships, ideal for long-range patrolling and escort duties.

INS Kolkata

INS Kolkata is the first ship of the Kolkata-class stealth destroyers in the Indian Navy. It was built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai and officially joined the Navy on 16 August 2014, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the ceremony. The ship is named after the city of Kolkata and is the largest warship made in India so far.

It is fitted with powerful weapons like BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, along with advanced radar, sonar, and control systems. INS Kolkata has taken part in many missions, such as fighting piracy and carrying out rescue operations in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, proving its strength in both combat and security roles.

• Armament:

• BrahMos: Supersonic anti-ship and land-attack missiles. 

• Barak 8: Surface-to-air missiles for air defense. 

• Main Gun: A 76mm gun capable of engaging surface, air, and shore targets. 

• ASW Systems: Equipped with indigenous rocket launchers and a torpedo launching system for anti-submarine warfare. 

INS Chennai

INS Chennai is the third and last stealth destroyer of the Kolkata-class, built in India at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai. It was commissioned in 2016 and is 163 meters long. The ship carries advanced missile systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the Barak-8 air defense missile.

It is designed to tackle threats from the air, sea surface, and underwater. For protection, it uses Indian-made systems like the Kavach chaff (against missiles) and the Mareech torpedo decoy. The ship has a crew of about 350–400 people and can operate two multi-role combat helicopters. It is also prepared to function in situations involving nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare.

INS Delhi

INS Delhi (D61) is the first ship of the Indian Navy’s Delhi-class guided-missile destroyers and was officially commissioned in 1997. This multi-role warship, designed and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, highlights India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding. 

Weighing around 6,900 tonnes, INS Delhi is equipped with cutting-edge weapons and radar systems, making it capable of handling anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface combat missions. Serving as a powerful command and control platform of the Eastern Fleet, the warship demonstrates India’s technological expertise and maritime strength.

INS Shivalik

INS Shivalik (F47) is a modern warship built in India. It is the first ship of its class and was made at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. The Navy added it to service in 2010. Today, it serves as one of the main ships in the Eastern Fleet and is fitted with advanced weapons and sensors. Its motto is “no limits.”

The ship has also taken part in big international naval exercises like RIMPAC 2024 and JIMEX 2024, showing India’s strong presence and capabilities at a global level. 

INS Satpura

INS Satpura is an indigenously built Shivalik-class guided missile stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, commissioned on August 20, 2011. Built by Mazagon Dock Limited, this frontline warship of the Eastern Fleet, based in Visakhapatnam, is designed to detect and destroy adversaries in air, surface, and underwater domains. 

The Indian Navy ship is named after the central Indian mountain range and is equipped with a versatile array of weapons, sensors, and can carry multi-role helicopters.

Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers are the main strength of the Indian Navy. They are special warships that work like floating airbases on the sea. These ships have a large runway on top and are designed to carry, launch, arm, and recover aircraft. With them, a country can use its air power anywhere in the world without needing land-based airports.

Indigenous Navy Ships

India has made remarkable progress in building indigenous navy ships under the Make in India initiative. 

Ships like INS Vikrant (aircraft carrier) and INS Arihant (nuclear submarine) showcase India’s capability to design and construct world-class naval vessels. This reduces dependency on imports and boosts India’s defense strength.

INS Vikrant

Commissioned into service with the Indian Navy in September 2022, INS Vikrant is India’s first aircraft carrier to be designed and built entirely within India. The project was executed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau in collaboration with Cochin Shipyard Limited, marking a major leap in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in advanced defense systems.

The carrier carries forward the legacy of the original INS Vikrant, which played a decisive role during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Made in India Construction: The ship stands as a landmark achievement in indigenous naval design and shipbuilding.

• Size and Dimensions: Measuring about 262 meters in length and 62 meters in breadth, it is among the largest warships ever built in the country.

• Aircraft Capacity: The carrier is capable of accommodating and operating modern aircraft, including MiG‑29K fighter jets and MH‑60R Seahawk helicopters, along with other support aircraft.

• Automation and Technology: Equipped with sophisticated systems for navigation, engine control, and damage control, it incorporates advanced levels of automation.

• Flight Deck: With its expansive flight deck, ski-jump launch system, and high-capacity aircraft elevators, it enables efficient aircraft handling and operations.

INS Arihant 

INS Arihant is India's first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), commissioned in 2016 and carrying out its first deterrence patrol in 2018, establishing India's underwater nuclear capabilities. As a key component of India's nuclear triad, the 6,000-tonne submarine is important for a credible second-strike capability, allowing it to launch nuclear missiles from beneath the ocean's surface to deter a first-strike attack. 

The INS Arihant is armed with both the 750 km range K-15 SLBM and is being fitted with the longer-range 3,500 km K-4 SLBM, enhancing its deterrent role.

Key Features & Role

• Nuclear-Powered Submarine:
  INS Arihant is a nuclear-propelled vessel powered by a compact light water reactor, enabling it to remain submerged for extended periods and operate in deep waters.

• Ballistic Missile Carrier:
  The submarine is armed with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), providing a strategic advantage for India's nuclear deterrence.

• India's Nuclear Triad:
  The SSBN is the "maritime leg" of India's nuclear triad, alongside its land-based and air-launched components, providing a survivable and assured retaliatory capability.

• Second Strike Capability:
  By staying undetected underwater, INS Arihant ensures that India can retaliate with nuclear weapons even if struck first, which aligns with its "no first use" policy. 

• Indigenous Development:
  The INS Arihant submarines are developed under the highly secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, showcasing India's self-reliance in complex defense technology and engineering.