Role of Navy

The essence of all navies is their military character. In fact, the raison d’etre of navies is to ensure that no hostile maritime power degrades own national security and interests. The navy's military role is characterised by threat or use of force at and / or from the sea. This includes application of maritime power in both - offensive operations against enemy forces, territory and trade, and defensive operations to protect own forces, territory and trade. The military role is performed through accomplishment of specific military objectives, missions and tasks.

Naval diplomacy entails the use of naval forces in support of foreign policy objectives to build ‘bridges of friendship’ and strengthen international cooperation, on one hand, and to signal capability and intent to deter potential adversaries, on the other. The larger purpose of navy’s diplomatic role is to favourably shape the maritime environment in furtherance of national interests, in consonance with the nation’s foreign policy and national security objectives. Navies inherently lean towards performing a diplomatic role on account of two main characteristics. The first is their status as comprehensive instruments of a country’s sovereign power, whereupon their very presence in or off a certain area signals the nation’s political intent and commitment to pursue national interests in that region. Hence, their presence or absence can be calibrated to send a political message to potential friends and foes alike. The second characteristic facilitating the navy’s diplomatic role lies in the attributes of maritime forces, including access, mobility, sustenance, reach, flexibility and versatility. These combine to offer a variety of tools for furthering national interests and pursuing foreign policy goals. Naval forces can be readily deployed; they can perform multiple roles and tasks that can be calibrated in visibility and intensity as per requirements; and they can just as easily and rapidly be withdrawn, to send a counter-signal.

The increasing incidences of maritime crime has brought into sharp focus, the constabulary role that navies have to perform. The significance of this role may be gauged from the fact that for a third of the world’s navies, this is a major facet of their functioning. In the constabulary role, forces are employed to enforce law of the land or to implement a regime established by an international mandate. Force is only employed for self-defence or as a last resort in execution of this role. The protection and promotion of India’s maritime security is one of the prime responsibilities of the Indian Navy. This includes a constabulary element, especially where it relates to threats that involve use of force at sea. The range of tasks that the India Navy has to undertake in the constabulary role range from Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) to maintaining good order at sea. This further includes aspect of coastal security, as part of India’s overall maritime security. Constabulary tasks at sea are neither the primary nor the sole mandate of the Indian Navy. With establishment of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in February 1977, law enforcement aspects of the constabulary role within the Maritime Zones of India (MZI) have been transferred to the ICG. Security in major harbours and ports are the purview of the port authorities, aided by customs and immigration agencies. Constabulary tasks beyond the MZI are vested with the Indian Navy. Efficient and effective maritime constabulary requires proper and seamless coordination between the various maritime law enforcement and regulatory agencies. After the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, the responsibility for overall maritime security has been mandated to the Indian Navy, in close coordination with the ICG, State Marine Police and other Central/ State government and port authorities.

The ‘benign’ role is so named because violence has no part to play in its execution, nor is the potential to apply force a necessary prerequisite for undertaking these operations. Examples of benign tasks include humanitarian aid, disaster relief, Search and Rescue (SAR), ordnance disposal, diving assistance, salvage operations, hydrographic surveys, etc. Maritime forces, because of their quick mobilisation, are especially useful in the early stages of a crisis for providing relief material, first aid and succour in coastal areas. Much of the capacity to perform these functions is derived from the mobility, reach and endurance inherent in naval task forces, coupled with their unique sealift capability. For example, in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, one of the biggest challenges is the disbursement of food, water and relief material. It is under such conditions that military mobility, coupled with reliable communications are most effective in ensuring distribution to even the most remote afflicted areas. While specialised civilian agencies may take over at a later stage, maritime forces can provide the first helping hand and may be deployed to complement their efforts. The Indian Coast Guard is the designated national agency for maritime SAR in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR). Naval units may also be called upon to undertake SAR operations, as required.