Declining budget: Navy likely to field about 175 warships, not 200

The Navy was allocated Rs 56,388 crore in 2019-20, of which Rs 25,656 crore was for capital expenditure

The chief of naval staff (CNS), Admiral Karambir Singh, has admitted that the Navy’s declining budget has forced him to re-evaluate his long-term plan to field 200 warships by 2027. This target is institutionalised in the Navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan (MCPP) for 2012-2027.

To media queries about how many ships could realistically be expected to be in service by 2027, the Navy’s vice chief, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, replied “about 175”. The CNS, however, termed that figure “optimistic”.

Singh was addressing the media on Tuesday, on the eve of Navy Day. The Navy currently has about 130 warships,