The Navy’s long-term plan is to have two aircraft carriers (Vikramaditya and indigenous Air Defence Ship being built at Karwar) and no less than five nuclear submarines that can match the evolving strategic scenario in Asia.

It is no secret that New Delhi looks to match Beijing’s sea capability, with the latter going all out to build a potent PLA Navy with Xia class nuclear submarines and Soverymenny class destroyers acquired from Russia.

This decade will see power projection by both the Asian powers in Indian Ocean—which accounts for 52 per cent of the world trade—and the Americans, who are here to stay to protect their oil economy.

In short, the future is full of opportunity for the Indian Navy but is also fraught with peril because of the nuclear dimension. But is the Navy prepared to be the cutting edge of India’s military might?

The answer is an obvious “no” as the force still searches for a strong leader, who will be a match for the Defence Ministry’s babus and have the vision to take the Force forward—exorcising the ghost of Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, who was brought down by narrow-minded babus in conjunction with stock market dabbling officers.That will not be easy.

The need of the hour is discipline, not glossy coffee table books, musical orchestras or bilateral ship visits (euphemistically called military tourism) to the four corners of the world. There is no scope for mistakes in a nuclear Navy.