THE INDIAN NAVY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

An emerging regional power, the Indian Navy is seen as a stabilizing force in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett addresses the various issues the Indian Navy must consider in order for it to become a force to be reckoned with.

As a continuation of our naval policy - Building Bridges of Friendship - the Indian Navy has been very active in naval exercises in both Indian and foreign waters. The author, a maritime security analyst, reviews this newfound role in the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy has been seeing increased participation with the world's most powerful Naval Fleet, the United States Navy. The author, a retired Vice Chief of the Indian Navy, discusses the salient points that make these two navies work in perfect sync.

The Indian Navy's role, says this former Vice Chief of the Indian Navy, is modest and straightforward - to deter aggression from seaward by posing a threat of punitive damage. The far-reaching decisions that have governed its development are all the more remarkable in that they have had to survive the rigorous financial scrutiny that is characteristic of democratic governance.

India has strengthened its position on the Indian Ocean’s littoral and among the ocean's island nations. India also has become a more palpable presence in key maritime zones; its links with the most important external actors also have been strengthened. These are significant achievements, and they derive from India's growing economic clout, maritime strength, and a surer hand in diplomacy. As this process unfolds further, it will have a transforming effect on the Indian Ocean basin and, eventually, the world. The author is a professor at the College of Security Studies, Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Admiral Arun Prakash is the Chief of the Indian Navy. In this article, he describes the history of India’s quest for an aircraft carrier force, the challenges that have been met over the last 60 years and the successful route to indigenous carrier construction.

Lieutenant Commander J M Golsalves examines the role of the Indian Navy during the next two decades vis-à-vis India's maritime interests, and suggests a viable force structure and outlines a plan of action for attainment of that purpose.

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