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Indian Navy Demonstrates Its Power and Strategic Ambitions in Indian Ocean During TROPEX 2025.
India has concluded the 2025 edition of its flagship naval exercise, the Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which took place over three months from January to March. This large-scale exercise was designed to test the Indian Navy's operational readiness through a series of complex maneuvers involving several warships, aircraft, and joint force units. Now recognized as one of the most powerful naval forces in Asia, the Indian Navy continues to assert its central role in regional maritime security at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean.
The exercise featured several key components, including amphibious operations under the AMPHEX framework, precision strike phases, cyber and electronic warfare operations, and advanced tactical maneuvers (Picture source: Indian Navy)
The 2025 edition of TROPEX covered an extensive operational area, spanning nearly 5,000 nautical miles from west to east, from the Strait of Hormuz to the Sunda and Lombok Straits, and approximately 4,300 nautical miles from north to south, reaching as far as 35° south latitude. This broad scope allowed the Indian naval forces to simulate realistic defense and power projection scenarios across the strategic expanse of the Indian Ocean. The exercise involved between 65 and 70 warships, 9 to 10 submarines, and more than 80 combat and surveillance aircraft. The integration of other branches of the armed forces, including Su-30 and Jaguar fighter jets, AWACS and C-130 aircraft from the Air Force, infantry troops, and Coast Guard vessels, reinforced the joint nature of the operation, demonstrating India's ability to conduct large-scale coordinated operations.
The exercise featured several key components, including amphibious operations under the AMPHEX framework, precision strike phases, cyber and electronic warfare operations, and advanced tactical maneuvers. These scenarios tested the Indian Navy’s capabilities in a complex operational environment, highlighting its preparedness to address regional maritime security challenges.
The Indian Navy, currently the seventh-largest naval force in the world, plays a crucial role in India's defense and power projection strategy in the Indo-Pacific. With a fleet of over 150 combat ships and an extensive modernization program, India aims to establish itself as a major naval power in the region. The expansion of the Indian Navy relies on significant fleet renewal efforts, involving the acquisition of new warships, submarines, and aircraft.
India has prioritized defense self-sufficiency under the Make in India initiative, which seeks to strengthen the domestic defense industry and reduce reliance on foreign military equipment imports. In line with this policy, the Indian Navy has launched multiple shipbuilding programs involving local shipyards, such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), which produce frigates, destroyers, and submarines.
One of the most notable ongoing projects is the INS Vikrant, India's first domestically built aircraft carrier, which joined the fleet in 2022. It significantly enhances the Navy’s power projection capabilities. A second aircraft carrier, INS Vishal, is currently in the planning stage and is expected to further extend India's carrier strike group capabilities, allowing operations in multiple theaters simultaneously.
In the submarine domain, India continues to advance its Project-75, aimed at equipping the Navy with Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines, developed in partnership with France’s Naval Group. Five units have been delivered, with a sixth under construction. Simultaneously, India is developing its Project-75 Alpha, which focuses on nuclear-powered attack submarines, enhancing the country's underwater deterrence and maritime dominance.
India also relies on international partnerships to modernize its naval fleet and enhance operational capabilities. Russia has been a key supplier, providing Talwar-class frigates and Kilo-class submarines, some of which have undergone upgrades to extend their operational life. France continues to play a major role in Indian naval development, particularly through the Scorpène submarine program and technology-sharing agreements in naval defense.
The United States has become a strategic partner in strengthening India's maritime security, particularly through cooperation under the QUAD alliance, which includes India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia. This framework focuses on ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific and balancing regional power dynamics. India has procured MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and MQ-9B SeaGuardian surveillance drones from the U.S., enhancing its anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance capabilities.
In surface warfare, the Indian Navy is developing Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyers under Project 15B. These ships, built by MDL, incorporate advanced detection and weapon systems. They will replace older destroyers and significantly increase the fleet's combat capabilities.
TROPEX 2025 takes place in the context of evolving security challenges in the Indian Ocean, particularly with the increasing presence of the Chinese Navy. China's expansion of naval bases in Africa and the Indian Ocean, including at Djibouti and Sri Lanka, has prompted India to reinforce its maritime security posture and strengthen defense collaborations with other regional and global powers.
As the Indian Navy undergoes modernization, it continues to enhance its ability to secure strategic sea lanes and extend its operational reach. With a growing fleet, ambitious shipbuilding programs, and robust international partnerships, India is positioning itself as a key maritime security actor in the Indo-Pacific. TROPEX 2025 highlights this trajectory, showcasing the evolution of the Indian Navy's operational capabilities and its role in regional security dynamics.