The Indian Navy played a decisive role in Operation Sindoor, establishing maritime dominance and forcing Pakistan into a defensive posture through a calibrated deployment in the Arabian Sea.
Operating as a networked force, the Navy deployed a Carrier Battle Group led by INS Vikrant, equipped with MiG-29K fighter jets and airborne early warning helicopters. This ensured persistent surveillance and real-time threat detection, while maintaining a strong air defence shield that prevented hostile aerial incursions, particularly from the Makran Coast.
According to sources, the Navy positioned around 36 frontline assets, including warships and submarines, near Karachi, marking a significant escalation in capability compared to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, when only six warships were deployed. The forward presence effectively bottled up Pakistani naval and air elements along their western seaboard, denying them operational space.
Recently, Chief of Naval Staff Dinesh K. Tripathi said the Navy was “minutes away” from launching maritime strikes during the operation but held back after Pakistan sought cessation of hostilities. The remarks underscore the level of combat readiness maintained by naval forces throughout the crisis.
