India vs Pakistan 2025: Naval Power Comparison in Detail | The Dainik
India vs Pakistan 2025: Naval Power Comparison in Detail
Published: Saturday, May 10, 2025 | By The Dainik News Team
In 2025, the Indian and Pakistani navies reflect two very different maritime doctrines: India’s blue-water ambitions and Pakistan’s focus on coastal defense and asymmetric deterrence. Here’s a comprehensive, data-driven comparison of their fleets, submarine forces, missile capabilities, and strategic outlook.
Fleet Size and Global Ranking
Naval Category
India 🇮🇳
Pakistan 🇵🇰
Global Naval Rank (2025)
6th
27th
Total Fleet Strength
293
121
Aircraft Carriers
2
0
Submarines
18
8
Destroyers
13
0
Frigates
14
9
Corvettes
18
9
Patrol Vessels
135
69
Amphibious Ships
8
0
Minesweepers
3
3
Aircraft Carriers and Surface Combatants
India: Operates two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya (Russian origin) and INS Vikrant (indigenously built). These platforms enable power projection far beyond the Indian Ocean, supporting both air and amphibious operations.[2][5][7][9]
Pakistan: Has no aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships, limiting its ability to project power beyond its immediate coastline.[2][3][5][7][9]
Destroyers: India’s 13 destroyers (Delhi, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam classes) are equipped with advanced missiles, radars, and anti-submarine systems. Pakistan has none.
Frigates: India fields 14 (Shivalik, Talwar, Brahmaputra classes), while Pakistan operates 9, including four modern Type 054A/P Chinese-built frigates and four F-22P Zulfiquar-class.
Corvettes & Patrol Vessels: India’s 18 corvettes and 135 patrol vessels provide multi-layered defense and coastal security. Pakistan’s 9 corvettes and 69 patrol vessels focus on coastal and EEZ defense.
Submarine Forces: The Undersea Race
Submarine Type
India 🇮🇳
Pakistan 🇵🇰
Nuclear-powered Ballistic (SSBN)
1 (INS Arihant)
0
Nuclear-powered Attack (SSN)
2 (1 leased Akula, 1 indigenous)
0
Diesel-electric (SSK)
15 (Scorpene, Kilo, Shishumar)
5 (Agosta-90B, Agosta-70)
New Submarines (on order)
9 (3 Scorpene, 6 P-75I/SSN)
8 (Hangor-class, China)
India: Operates a nuclear triad with INS Arihant (SSBN) and two SSNs (one leased Akula, one indigenous). Six Scorpene-class (Kalvari) diesel-electric subs, with three more ordered, plus Kilo and Shishumar classes. However, a significant portion of the fleet is aging, and several boats are under refit.[6][8][9]
Pakistan: Five operational Agosta-class diesel-electric submarines (French origin), including three Agosta-90B with AIP (air-independent propulsion). Eight Hangor-class (Chinese origin) subs are being inducted by 2030, with two delivered as of 2025. This could give Pakistan an edge in underwater warfare in the coming years.[3][6]
Both navies are investing in AIP and stealth technologies for greater endurance and survivability.
Naval Missile and Nuclear Capabilities
India: Possesses a full nuclear triad. The Agni-V (over 5,200 km range) and K-15/K-4 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) arm the Arihant-class. Surface ships are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Barak-8 SAMs, and advanced anti-ship/anti-air missiles.[2][5]
Pakistan: Relies on Babur-3 (submarine-launched), Harbah, and C-802 anti-ship missiles. The Shaheen-III ballistic missile (2,750 km range) is its longest-range system, with ongoing efforts to extend this further. Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent is primarily land- and air-based, with submarine-based capability expanding.[2][3][5]
Strategic Logistics and Infrastructure
Category
India 🇮🇳
Pakistan 🇵🇰
Merchant Marine
1,859
60
Ports & Terminals
56
3
Naval Bases
Major: Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Karwar, Port Blair
Major: Karachi, Gwadar, Ormara
Logistics & Shipbuilding
Robust, indigenous capability
Growing, China-supported
India: Has a vast network of ports, dry docks, and shipyards with strong indigenous shipbuilding capacity. Capable of sustained overseas deployments and blue-water operations.
Pakistan: Focuses on coastal defense, with Chinese-supported expansion at Gwadar port and new bases at Ormara and Jinnah Naval Base.
Doctrinal Differences and Strategic Outlook
India: Pursues a blue-water doctrine, aiming for regional dominance and global reach. Its navy is designed for force projection, sea control, and safeguarding SLOCs (sea lines of communication) in the Indian Ocean and beyond.[2][3]
Pakistan: Follows a green-water, asymmetric doctrine focused on “minimum credible deterrence.” Emphasizes submarines, stealth, and anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) to counter India’s numerical superiority.[3]
India’s navy participates in regular joint exercises (Malabar, Varuna) and is modernizing rapidly, while Pakistan’s navy is expanding with Chinese support and focusing on modernizing its submarine and missile forces.
Summary Table: India vs Pakistan Naval Power (2025)
Category
India 🇮🇳
Pakistan 🇵🇰
Total Fleet Strength
293
121
Aircraft Carriers
2
0
Submarines
18
8
Destroyers
13
0
Frigates
14
9
Corvettes
18
9
Patrol Vessels
135
69
Amphibious Ships
8
0
Minesweepers
3
3
Conclusion: Who Holds the Advantage?
India’s navy is a true blue-water force, with aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and a vast surface fleet enabling global reach and regional dominance. Its indigenous shipbuilding and logistics infrastructure further amplify its power. Pakistan’s navy, while smaller, is rapidly modernizing with Chinese support, focusing on submarines, stealth, and missile technology for coastal defense and asymmetric deterrence. In open-ocean or expeditionary scenarios, India holds overwhelming superiority; in coastal and undersea warfare, Pakistan’s new Hangor-class submarines and missile frigates are narrowing the gap. The Indian Ocean will remain a critical arena for both navies as regional and global competition intensifies.
