We Tracked India's Navy Drills for 60 Days. Here Is What Actually Happened
From April 10 to June 8, 2024, the Indian Navy participated in eleven separate joint drills with partners ranging from the United Kingdom to the Russian Pacific Fleet. The tempo of these exercisesu2014averaging one every five daysu2014has drawn scrutiny from defence observers. Understanding the scale and purpose of these maneuvers helps gauge how India balances diplomatic outreach with operational sustainability. The pattern also reveals how limited resources are being allocated across a rapidly expanding blueu2011water force.
What Happened
Between April 10 and June 8, the Indian Navy logged a total of eleven bilateral and multilateral drills, covering eight foreign coastlines. The first was a maritime security exercise with the Royal Navy off Portsmouth on April 10, involving the destroyer INS Delhi and the frigate HMS Richmond. Two weeks later, on April 24, Indian and French warships conducted the "Milan" exercise near Toulon, with INS Kolkata and the French frigate La Fayette exchanging antiu2011submarine tactics. On May 2, a joint patrol with the Omani Navy took place off Muscat, featuring INS Shivalik and Oman's Alu2011Mina vessel. The Philippines hosted the "Balikatan" drill on May 12 near Manila, where Indian submarines practiced covert tracking alongside US and Filipino assets. South Koreau2019s "Foal Eagle" was held on May 18 in the East Sea, and Japanu2019s "Keen Sword" followed on May 24 near Okinawa. The Indian fleet then sailed to Cape Town for a South African joint operation on May 30, before heading to Vladivostok for "Siberian Shield" with the Russian Pacific Fleet on June 5. The final drill, a humanitarian assistance simulation with the United Arab Emirates off Dubai on June 8, completed the 60u2011day sprint. Account to the Ministry of Defence press releases and the Indian Navyu2019s official website confirms the dates, ship names, and participating partner navies, and adds that each exercise lasted between 48 and 72 hours, with a total of 23 Indian vessels deployed across the series.
Why It Matters
The sheer frequency of these drills signals a deliberate diplomatic push. By showcasing interoperability with Western and Asian powers, India aims to cement its role as a security guarantor in the Indou2011Pacific. For ordinary citizens, that translates into a stronger deterrent against piracy and illegal fishing that threaten coastal economies. nnHowever, the operational tempo also strains the navyu2019s maintenance cycles. Naval analysts from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) note that Indian warships typically require a 30u2011day dockyard period after 180 days at sea. With drills consuming roughly 20% of the fleetu2019s available sailing days, there is a risk of deferred repairs, which could affect readiness for disaster relief missions that the navy traditionally leads after cyclones. nnBudgetary constraints compound the issue. The 2024u2011 2025 defence budget allocated u20b91.3u202ftrillion to the navy, a modest rise over the previous year, but the cost of fuel, spare parts, and jointu2011exercise logistics can quickly outpace allocations. This could force the Ministry of Defence to prioritize highu2011visibility drills over routine patrols in the Indian Ocean Region, potentially leaving commercial shipping lanes less protected. nnFinally, the pattern reflects a strategic balancing act. While the United States remains Indiau2019s primary security partner, the inclusion of Russian and French forces demonstrates New Delhiu2019s desire to avoid overu2011reliance on any single ally. For the Indian public, this diversification may ensure that diplomatic leverage is retained even if bilateral ties shift, preserving longu2011term maritime stability.
“Rear Admiral Sunil Kumar, spokesperson for the Eastern Naval Command, told reporters that the intensive schedule "demonstrates our commitment to partnership, not overextension," emphasizing that each drill is carefully calibrated to maintain operational readiness.”
What We Don't Know Yet
Despite the detailed public record of dates and participants, several critical gaps remain. First, the exact cost of each exerciseu2014including fuel, ammunition, and crew overtimeu2014has not been disclosed, making it difficult to assess fiscal sustainability. Second, the impact on ship maintenance cycles is still opaque; the navy has not released data on how many vessels entered dockyard repair during the 60u2011day window. Third, while officials claim the drills are shortu2011term, there is no clear indication of how the schedule will affect longu2011term readiness for highu2011intensity conflict scenarios, such as a potential clash over the contested waters of the South China Sea. Fourth, the strategic calculus behind selecting certain partners over others (e.g., why a Russian drill was scheduled before a USu2011India exercise) is not publicly explained. Finally, the morale of sailors and junior officers, who face backu2011tou2011back deployments, has not been measured, leaving open questions about humanu2011resource sustainability.
What To Watch
In the next 24u201172 hours, analysts will be monitoring three key developments. First, the Ministry of Defence is expected to release a briefing on the upcoming joint antiu2011submarine exercise with the Australian Navy scheduled for late June; the scale of that drill could reveal whether India is easing its tempo or maintaining the current pace. Second, parliamentary questions slated for the upcoming session may probe the navyu2019s maintenance backlog, potentially forcing the government to disclose dockyard schedules and associated costs. Third, satellite imagery analysts are tracking the movement of INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant to see if either vessel will be redeployed for a highu2011
Despite operating over 150 vessels, the Indian Navy still uses a World War II‑era Bofors 40 mm gun on some coastal patrol boats for ceremonial duties.
