India Unveils 15-Year Technology and Capability Roadmap for Navy

India’s Ministry of Defence released the Technology Perspective Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2025, conveying the perspective of the Armed forces on emerging futuristic combat technologies and their stated requirements.

Previous two releases of TPCR were in 2013 and 2018. The latest edition incorporates comments from DRDO, which has developed or is developing several systems required by the armed forces. The 2025 edition listed several tentative requirements from the Indian Navy, along with the Indian Army and IAF, which can provide a glimpse of the future plans of the service. Several requirements are carried over from the previous editions.

A singleaircraft carrieris tentatively required with no additional information provided. Indian Navy’s plan for a second aircraft carrier was long understood to be a larger Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) equipped 65,000 ton design commonly referred to as INS Vishal. Recently, a repeat order for the Vikrant design was stated to be under consideration. But TPCR 2025 appears to suggest that the Navy has the large carrier in mind.

Along with a carrier, other relevant systems such as Automatic Carrier Landing System, Fresnel Lens Based Optical Landing System, Combat Management Software (CMS) including Aircraft Control and Air Direction, Arresting gear and two EMALS are sought. DRDO is currently developing EMALS for this requirement.

Notably, Nuclear Propulsion for Future Aircraft Carrier and other Surface Combatants has also been sought with a quantity of 10 envisioned. It had long been considered that the Navy had chosen not to go with nuclear propulsion for the second indigenous aircraft carrier. However, its inclusion in TPCR suggests that the Navy may be reevaluating its merits with the future needs in mind.

It should be noted that the EMALS and Nuclear Propulsion are the two of the three new entries regarding the aircraft carrier compared to TPCR 2018. The third is the inclusion of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) along with LCA (Navy).

The TEDBF program is understood to be in the conceptual stage with potential changes impending. The 4.5 generation design showcased by DRDO ADA may make way for a fifth generation design. This could mark a return to a Naval AMCA design as was considered in the late 2010s or more likely than not will lead to a bespoke design with design experience of AMCA and the LCA (Navy).

Meanwhile the inclusion of LCA (Navy), the naval counterpart of the IAF’s Tejas LCA, is also noteworthy. The aircraft was rejected for carrier operations due to being a single engine fighter and inadequate payload capacity when operating from India’s STOBAR carriers. However, the LCA (Navy) prototypes have operated from both INS Vikramaditya and Vikrant for technology demonstration. The prototypes primarily fly from the base INS Hansa, where a Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) is present. The induction of the LCA (Navy) has been sought by many, including sections within the Navy, due to its suitability as a trainer aircraft for carrier-borne fighters. Further it is argued that the production and induction of LCA (Navy) will provide the Indian industry with valuable experience in producing and operating a carrier based fighter, which would be invaluable for the success of ongoing projects. The Navy’s MiG-29K fleet is historically troubled by issues while the recent deal for 26 Rafale-M includes just four trainers which cannot operate from aircraft carriers.

The HAL Deck Based Multi Role Helicopters (DBMRH) and Utility Helicopter Maritime (UH-M) are also mentioned in TPCR. Navy has sought significant numbers of remotely piloted aircraft in addition to Army and IAF requirements, including over 120 MALE UAVs, over 30 Combat MALE UAVs, 15 solar powered High Altitude Psuedo Satellites (HAPS), over 20 HALE UAVs, 25 to 30 VTOL UAVs, and over 150 shipborne UAVs.

Five to ten Next Generation Destroyers (NGD) / Next Generation Frigates (NGF) are the premier surface combatants sought with the prospective quantity remaining unchanged from TPCR 2018. Similarly, seven Next Generation Corvettes (NGC) are mentioned. However, it is understood that the NGC project includes eight ships, with GRSE selected as the lowest bidder to make five vessels. Times of India reported that four NGDs with a displacement of about 10,000 tons each are in the pipeline for approval.

Over 10 Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV) are sought, with a length of 87 meters and having a steel hull. The Navy’s quest to acquire MCMVs has been heavily delayed due to the requirement of an advanced composite hull. Due to the morphing role of MCMVs are motherships for unmanned vehicles enabling safe distances during demining operations, a steel hull is now considered satisfactory. An RFI had been released in 2023 for mothership MCMVs and initial approval was granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in July 2025. 12 MCMVs are expected to be procured for ₹44,000 crore ($5 billion). 12 Unmanned Mine Counter Measure (MCM) suites consisting of CASCADE ASVs, AUVs and ROVs for MCM are also sought for deployment from the MCMVs. CASCADE, which stands for Compact Autonomous Craft All Domain Effects, is an ongoing project by the Navy to develop small autonomous unmanned surface vessels for MCM. 20 CASCADE ASVs with length between 15 and 25m, towed array/ thin line sonar and torpedo tubes for ASW are sought separately. CASCADE is intended to be operated from shore based control station in autonomous, remote or minimally manned mode.

Over five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) are sought. The Indian Navy has already signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) for five FSS. The requirement in TPCR largely matches the specs for the ordered FSS, with the major difference being the armament mentioned “..would be fitted with Anti-Ship, Anti Submarine and Close-in Weapons and Sensors.” Addition of anti-ship or ASW armament on a FSS would be surprising given the role of the FSS.

Four Landing Platform Docks (LPD) are mentioned, a previously known requirement from the Navy. The 220 m long ships will displace about 29,000 tons and will be equipped with Multi -Function Radars, Air Surveillance Radars and Integrated Full Electric Propulsion. The LPDs will act as a mother ship for Landing Craft Mechanised (LCMs) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVPs) as well as unmanned vehicles such as ROVs, UAVs and gliders.

100 Next Generation Fast Interceptor Crafts (NGFIC) are needed along with 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor Crafts (RMFIC). Both are to be 13 – 17m long and weigh about 17 tons. The twin engined craft will likely be powered by an L&T waterjet system, developed under DRDO Technology Development Fund scheme,  which has completed trials aboard an existing Navy FIC. In December 2024, procurement of 120 FIC was given initial clearance by the DAC. It is currently unclear whether this is the same requirement as the 100 NGFIC + 20 RMFIC. GRSE and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) had delivered a fast interceptor boat with autonomy mode to the Navy. Indian firm Sagar Defence has also demonstrated autonomous craft with comparable size.

21 320 ton New Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (NWJFACs) are also required by the Navy with the Army too raising a need for 10 to 15 such vessels. 31 NWJFAC were given clearance by DAC in 2024.

20 High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (HEAUV) are required for ASW, MCM, ISR, ELINT and other roles. Previously public Navy requirements had asked for just eight HEAUVs. DRDO is currently testing a HEAUV along with CSL. A requirement for 12 Off Board Vehicles is also raised, with the description hinting at torpedo tube launch capability.

A major focus is on systems for an “Indigenous Conventional Submarine”, which is likely under Project 76. For some systems, it is stated that “Values will be finalized by 2025 post completion of sketch design,” providing an idea of the current status of the work on project.

The specific systems explicitly stated to be for the indigenous conventional submarine include: 12 to 15 Diesel Alternator Rectifiers of 1.5MW class, six to eight 5MW class Submarine Electrical Propulsion Motors, six Integrated Combat Suites (ICS) for Conventional Submarine (which is under development by DRDO), six Platform Management Systems, Lithium Ion batteries with a charging cycle of over 14 days (also under development by DRDO) and Static Frequency Converters. Other systems for submarines, but not necessarily the indigenous SSK includes over 10 Towed Wire Antenna Systems, ten thrusters and lithium ion batteries with a charging cycle of over 3 days.

DRDO is also developing a 324 mm torpedo with over 25 km range and 50 knots speed, which is likely the Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT). The Navy has sought over 2000 Extended Range ASW Rockets (ERASR) with over 8500 m range meant to be used by the RBU-6000 / IRL ASW rocket launcher. The ERASR maintains the same dimensions as the 5500 m ranged RGB60 rocket and utilizes the same YDB60 fuse. User trials of ERASR were carried out in July 2025.

Over 30 gun – missile Close in Weapon Systems (CIWS) are required.  The range of missile and gun should not be less than 6 km and 4 km respectively. There is no known indigenous development matching this. However, DRDO is developing a gatling gun as well as the VSHORADS missile which may be adapted for the purpose. Standalone naval launchers for the VSHORADS are under development.

Over 100 shore based anti-ship missiles are sought having a range of more than 250 km with its own mobile integral radar and support complex. DRDO commented that it is developing a similar system. BrahMos has a coastal variant which has been procured as well as ordered by the Navy as well as the Philippines. In a separate requirement along with the Army, the Navy needs over 200 surface to surface missiles for anti-ship and land attack role with range of over 150 km and weight under one ton. These is likely the turbojet powered NASM-MR missile or another missile under the Glidefire program. While NASM-MR was known to be for launch from fighter aircraft, a ground launched version is also being developed.

Guided ammunition for 76 mm guns with over 50 km range, ER Guided Munitions (127 mm and above) with at least 70 km range. Active Off-Board Decoys for the Kavach chaff launcher and decoys for Wake Homing Torpedo for the Maareech ATDS torpedo decoy launcher are also sought. Ten Supersonic Aerial Targets have also been sought by the Navy. DRDO is developing a suitable system called STAR.

On the propulsion front, major requirements are raised in addition to nuclear propulsion. The Navy reckons it will need 45 to 50 Gas Turbines for Conventional Propulsion with up to 40 MW capacity, over 100 Main Diesel Engines, over 200 Gas Turbine/ Diesel Generator Sets for the previously mentioned turbines and engines, gearboxes for power output up to 44 MW for configurations such as CODAD, CODAG, CODOG, CODLOG, CODLAG etc, over 100 Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) and over eight Electric Propulsion systems for IN Ships.

Electric propulsion for 12 MW capacity is a requirement under the Make-1 program along with small diesel engines. Recently, under the Make-1 scheme, the Navy had released a requirement for 24 to 28 MW class indigenous marine gas turbine engines of which four prototypes are to be made. At least 40 engines will be procured once developed. Currently India’s fleet is reliant on the GE LM2500 from US and Zorya Mashproekt gas turbines from Ukraine.

50 to 70 Indigenous Integrated Masts (IIM) consisting of ELINT, COMINT, V/UHF and L Band transmitters in a single structure are sought. India is collaborating with Japan for the UNICORN mast which involves BEL. However, it is understood that an IIM was already in development as a two phase program, which will incorporate lessons from the UNICORN.

Many more subsystems are sought across various sectors like communications, electronic warfare, ordnance disposal and more. It must be noted that while requirements in TPCR are futuristic and subject to changes, many others are indeed being pursued currently. Naval News will update when more information is forthcoming.