The Indian Navy is set to deploy a sophisticated underwater sensor network in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to monitor and deter the increasing presence of Chinese submarines. This strategic initiative, aimed at enhancing underwater domain awareness (UDA), comes amid growing concerns over Beijing’s expanding naval footprint in the region.
The underwater sensor network, comprising seabed sonar arrays, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and unmanned surveillance systems, will be established along key maritime chokepoints and sea lines of communication (SLOCs). These include crucial zones like the Malacca Strait, the Eight Degree Channel near the Lakshadweep Islands, and other maritime corridors through which Chinese naval vessels frequently traverse.
A Response to Growing Chinese Naval Presence
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has increasingly deployed nuclear and conventional submarines in the IOR under the guise of anti-piracy patrols or hydrographic surveys. While Beijing insists these are routine operations, Indian defense experts view them as attempts to assert influence and gather intelligence close to India’s maritime borders.
The Indian Navy has tracked multiple instances of Chinese submarine activity near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the eastern seaboard. With the construction of overseas bases in countries like Djibouti and strong port partnerships with Pakistan (Gwadar) and Sri Lanka (Hambantota), China’s “string of pearls” strategy is perceived as a clear effort to encircle India in its maritime backyard.
To counter this, the Indian Navy is now taking preemptive action by creating a “silent shield” beneath the waves — an integrated sensor web that can detect, track, and classify hostile underwater threats in real time.
The Technology Behind the Sensor Network
The sensor network will be developed using a combination of indigenous technologies and collaborations with international defense partners. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in partnership with private defense firms and academic institutions like IITs, is at the core of developing acoustic sensor technology, signal processing systems, and secure underwater communication channels.
Seabed sensors, which function like undersea ears, will be deployed at various depths and distances along the ocean floor. These will be supported by mobile sonar drones and undersea gliders that can move autonomously and relay data back to command centers. The data gathered will be analyzed using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to distinguish between commercial vessels, natural movements, and potential threats like stealth submarines.
India is also working closely with partners like the United States, Japan, and Australia — members of the Quad — to share intelligence and align surveillance infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific. In fact, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA), announced in 2022, is designed to promote precisely such cooperation among friendly navies.
Enhancing Strategic Deterrence
The Indian Navy has long recognized the importance of underwater domain awareness in modern naval warfare. Submarines are considered one of the most potent tools for surveillance and deterrence due to their stealth and endurance. However, their strength also lies in secrecy, and the ability to detect and track them gives any navy a significant strategic edge.
By deploying a layered and networked underwater surveillance system, India aims to increase deterrence by denial — making it clear to adversaries that their movements will not go unnoticed. Such a system also allows for quicker response times in case of underwater incursions and strengthens India’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.
Protecting Economic and Security Interests
The Indian Ocean is a critical conduit for global trade and energy supplies, with nearly 80% of India’s oil imports and 95% of trade by volume passing through these waters. With Chinese interest in dominating sea routes under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), India is compelled to ensure maritime security not just for strategic reasons but also for safeguarding its economic lifelines.
The underwater sensor network is part of a broader maritime strategy that includes expanding India’s naval bases, upgrading its submarine fleet, and deepening defense partnerships. With over 7,500 kilometers of coastline and a vast exclusive economic zone, India’s ability to monitor and secure its waters is vital.
Looking Ahead
As China continues to flex its muscles in the Indo-Pacific, India is signaling its readiness to protect its maritime interests with a combination of technology, strategy, and international cooperation. The underwater sensor network — silent, invisible, but vigilant — may well become one of the most powerful tools in India’s maritime defense arsenal.