18 warships to be inducted in 2026, largest addition in a year in Navy’s history: Rajnath

NEW DELHI: Confirming a big milestone in the induction of combat vessels, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that there is a planned addition of 18 warships this year, calling it the “largest single-year force accretion in the history of the Indian Navy”.The new inductions will include frontline combat ships as well as specialised support vessels, all built at Indian shipyards. Among them will be modern stealth frigates designed for multiple roles, including surface warfare, air defence and anti-submarine operations. The Navy plans to become a fully self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar) force with a target of a 200-plus-ship navy by 2035.“Indian Navy’s warship production ecosystem is now meeting global benchmarks. The warships commissioned recently contain over 75% indigenous content.