Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:55pm on 08 Feb 2024,Thursday Defence
Despite the induction of the Indian Navy's first indigenously manufactured survey vessel, INS Sandhayak, concerns arise over China's overwhelming presence in research vessel operations. With only one vessel compared to China's fleet of 60, India faces a significant capability gap in mapping the Indian Ocean Region. The importance of research vessels in hydrographic surveys for sea control and dispute settlement underlines India's need for expansion. China's extensive survey activities in the region, including submarine navigation optimization and intelligence gathering, underscore the strategic significance of research vessels in maritime operations.
