India Races Towards A 200-Ship Fleet By 2035 To Counter China And Pakistan

[FuturePAF]

You can not compete with a 200 ship Navy that is mix of aircraft carrier, destroyers, converts, ASW ships etc... what you need is cost effective and asymmetrical ways along with some heavy punch.

So a major focus on

1. Suicide drones USVs, alot of them
2. Speed boats with cruise missiles, alot of them . Like 100
3. 8-10 ships with 64 VLS ,in 4500-5000 tonnage.
4. Submarine force needs to be expanded to 20. A mix of small and medium tonnage.
5. Coastal Anti-ship batteries with 1000 km hypersonic (and super and subsonic) anti-ship missiles


Jinnah and babur will carry what ? 16 SAMs ? That is for defence only. What about attack ? They only have 6-8 cruise missiles. A single India frigate will have 40+ SAMs to counter those 6-8 cruise missiles.


But even if we do all of this, still we can not prevent a blockade from Indian navy that is set 1000 km away from our coast. These things are only going to make it somewhat expensive for India and that's it. A 1000 km coastline country can not compete with a 11000 km coastline country that have 10 times of the economy.

Pakistan should also integrate Gwadar into economic plans for many GCC Countries, vis a via a plan to build that rail corridor to China. Economic integration will make that port vital for GCC countries as well as to China, and make it more likely they can use their diplomatic pressure to prevent a blockade.

 

[iron shrapnel]

Speed boats, suicide drones,
A conventional navy with non conventional arsenal... Go the Iranian way...

 

[CallSignMaverick]

Speed boats, suicide drones,
A conventional navy with non conventional arsenal... Go the Iranian way...

India can outproduce on that domain, several times over

 

[peacemaker99]

Speed boats, suicide drones,
A conventional navy with non conventional arsenal... Go the Iranian way...

I dont kmow about these things but if you dont get your leadership in line they will take you down the somalia way.

 

[Pakistani Dragon]

It will be very tough for Pakistan to match India and it will require out of box strategy. Pakistan is little behind in building replacements for F-22P.

Pakistan needs to increase the production of Babur‑class (PN MILGEM) and design New indigenous Corvette based on MILGEM‑G / TF‑100 concepts.

Total: 14–16 corvettes, plus 12–16 FACs and 6–8 OPVs.

Pakistan plans to command a surface fleet of at least 50 ships. That should be enough to defend Pakistani waters.

Current inventory:
Frigates: 9
Corvettes: 5
FACs: 10

Under development/construction/sea trials:
Corvettes: 9 (3 Milgem, 6 Jinnah)
Gun Boats: 20

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

China should arm Pakistan with inexpensive nuclear subs that could be afforded to equip in large number.

And the advanced destroyers should also be indispensable.

Since in the next decade, there is still more room for Sino-Pak economic integration and improvement.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

Pakistan plans to command a surface fleet of at least 50 ships. That should be enough to defend Pakistani waters.

Current inventory:
Frigates: 9
Corvettes: 5
FACs: 10

Under development/construction/sea trials:
Corvettes: 9 (3 Milgem, 6 Jinnah)
Gun Boats: 20

I am not trying to be harsh. Pakistan’s defense planners need to face a simple reality. platforms age out, and pretending otherwise is dangerous. The Navy may have nine frigates today, but the F‑22P class is already halfway through its service life. In 10–15 years, they’re gone. Just-FYI, these are Chinese older style frigates, hull life is limited and they get rusted pretty quickly.
If shipbuilding continues at its current glacial pace, Pakistan will fall behind faster than people expect.

The same logic applies to the Air Force. JF‑17 Block 1s are not immortal. They will hit their replacement window in about a decade. Yet production remains stuck at 15–20 aircraft per year, which is not enough to replace older jets, expand the fleet, and meet export commitments simultaneously. 6 Jinnah frigate won't be ready anytime soon.

This mindset of “we have it, so we’ll keep it forever” is exactly how militaries fall behind. Without accelerated production, Pakistan will face a capability gap that no amount of optimism can fix. I have given a simple solution, design New indigenous Corvette based on MILGEM‑G / TF‑100 concepts with VLSM and energy weapons. it's smaller and cheaper compared to Frigate. In next 15 years, Pakistan needs at least 6 to 8 in service.

BY 2045, Total: 14–16 corvettes, plus 12–16 FACs and 6–8 OPVs.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

Pakistan should also integrate Gwadar into economic plans for many GCC Countries, vis a via a plan to build that rail corridor to China. Economic integration will make that port vital for GCC countries as well as to China, and make it more likely they can use their diplomatic pressure to prevent a blockade.

It's great plan and historically speaking, most of these plans only stay on paper in someone's desk, nothing actual happened. Chinese are not giving free meal. We will have to wait and see.
Economically, we are in a big hole and to dig ourselves out of it, will require some sacrifices. Is establishment willing to make that sacrifice?

 

[FuturePAF]

It's great plan and historically speaking, most of these plans only stay on paper in someone's desk, nothing actual happened. Chinese are not giving free meal. We will have to wait and see.
Economically, we are in a big hole and to dig ourselves out of it, will require some sacrifices. Is establishment willing to make that sacrifice?

That is for them to decide; if they can bring Saudi, Qatar and China together to build such a secure corridor. Considering Saudi wants to contain Iran, it would be a way to do so. A cheaper way (upfront) but politically more costly way would be via Afghanistan. Less cost to the Saudi-US and Saudi-India relationship, while still creating the economic entanglement to protect the nation from a blockade.

Either way, the establishment should be leveraging this moment to shift the paradigm on all stuck issues for the nation. This year is really a unique moment, and doubtful the likes of will be align again.

Btw, this would also be a good time for the Pakistan navy to build out tunnel complexes for its ships. Capping out ship sizes in the fleet to 6000 tons is smart considering where warfare is going; especially in a littoral context.

Btw, you are right about plans that look great on paper, but fail to achieve any traction. What maybe missing to get the ball rolling is the PAF and PN demonstrating active utility to its treaty ally Saudia and its partners the Kuwaitis and Qataris, it just the diplomatic efforts.

Has the PAF deployed any of its AWACS to Saudia? An awacs could keep an eye on projectiles coming towards Saudi infrastructure; a defensive move, and one to ensure the peace the diplomatic side is tying to hold together. If the PAF has 4 AWACS to spare, two could be assigned to northeastern Saudi and another pair could be assigned to the southwest. PAF JF-17 with laser guided rockets could be cued in to shoot down drones or cruise missiles.

If the PN is prepared, it could run the gauntlet with Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. This would bake in the PAF and PN roles as net security providers.

In return, the Saudis could put their leverage on the Afghan to knock off their behavior and come to terms for a comprehensive understanding, locking in the value of Gwadar and security of the Pakistani coast from blockade.