The Indian Navy is pursuing development across air, sea, underwater, cyber and space — along with artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, counter-drone (counter-UAS) systems and quantum technology — to become a multi-domain networked force, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar said at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday (October 19).

He was unveiling Swavlamban 2026, the fifth edition of the Navy's flagship innovation and indigenisation seminar, to be held on October 26–27 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi with more than 100 exhibition stalls bringing together innovators, start-ups, MSMEs, academia and investors.

Kochhar said more than 4,000 proposals have come in from Indian innovators through the iDEX framework, with around 150 MSMEs and start-ups taking part; Acceptance of Necessity has been accorded for projects worth over Rs 3,500 crore (yaani: साढ़े तीन हज़ार करोड़ रुपये से अधिक के प्रोजेक्ट) and contracts worth over Rs 1,900 crore have been concluded.

On operations, he said that under Operation Urja Suraksha the Navy has escorted merchant cargo worth around Rs 16,000 crore (yaani: 16 हज़ार करोड़ रुपये का सामान) through West Asia and the Arabian Sea since March, amid disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, and that ongoing crises have kept the Navy engaged "thinking and deployment wise".

On modernisation, he said 42 platforms are on order, while another 78 platforms and 120 fast interceptor craft — worth around Rs 2.41 lakh crore (yaani: 2 लाख 41 हज़ार करोड़ रुपये) — have been accorded Acceptance of Necessity; a request for proposal has been issued for four landing platform docks.

Naming speed and spiral development as the next priorities, he said: "Technology does not stand still, and neither should the capabilities we develop."

Three documents will be released at the seminar: the Swavlamban 5.0 Document, the Compendium on Technology Imperatives and the NAUSETU Interface Standards.

Sources: PTI report via The Hindu (October 19, 2026); Times of India (October 19, 2026); Ministry of Defence / PIB Swavlamban 2026 curtain-raiser release, via India Defence Wire (October 19, 2026).