Distributed Presence: The Case for Armed Unmanned Surface Vessels in Indian Maritime Strategy

Distributed Presence: The Case for Armed Unmanned Surface Vessels in Indian Maritime Strategy

The recent collision between INS Kolkata and PNS Hunain in the Arabian Sea has sparked a crucial debate within the Indian Navy. The incident highlights the potential dangers of tense stand-offs between vessels and raises important questions about the role of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in such situations.

While the incident's circumstances are still disputed, one thing is clear: the Indian Navy needs to reassess its approach to maritime surveillance and response. Deploying smaller, unmanned surface vessels could provide additional eyes and sensors at a reduced risk to personnel. This distributed presence would enable the Navy to maintain a watchful eye on potential trouble-makers without putting its prized assets, such as destroyers and frigates, at risk.

An armed USV would not replace the need for conventional warships but could provide a distributed layer of surveillance and targeting support to large formations and areas of interest. Fitted with electro-optical sensors, radar, and communication equipment, such a platform could keep a watchful eye and communicate with a command centre. India's indigenous autonomous navigation development is already seeing the fruits of this ambition.

The Navy's WESEE and BEL have developed an autonomous navigation system that has been integrated with a fast interceptor boat. This system enables remote-controlled or autonomous operation, allowing the Navy to keep track of or shadow another vessel without using up a prized asset. This means more separation between the manned and unmanned vessels in a tense stand-off.

In the event of an unidentified or aggressively maneuvering vessel approaching an Indian formation, unmanned platforms could potentially keep up and relay its movements to the command centre while the manned warship has the freedom to maneuver. The deterrence value of an armed unmanned surface vessel would come less from the vessel's size and more from the awareness that an Indian maritime force could maintain its watchfulness and have other response options.

An armed variant carrying an anti-ship missile would be considerably more capable, providing a distributed surface-strike option to conventional warships. However, missile-armed autonomous vessels would require strict command-and-control parameters for safety and security reasons. There is a big difference between an unmanned platform carrying a missile and one authorized to independently decide when to launch that missile.

For India, a more realistic architecture would involve human-controlled engagement authorization, with the unmanned surface vessel providing surveillance, positioning, and targeting support while lethal decisions remain within an established chain of command. The Navy has been testing autonomous surface vessels, while domestic firms are developing more capable USVs.

A 2026 Indian military study on the future fleet has specifically examined how unmanned surface vessels could become part of the Navy's force structure. The strongest argument for smaller armed USVs is therefore not the need for them to directly confront rival warships during a stand-off. Their value would be in distributed presence and the ability to maintain a persistent, watchful presence and provide additional options during a tense maritime standoff.

In conclusion, the Indian Navy must consider the potential benefits of armed unmanned surface vessels in its maritime strategy. By leveraging the capabilities of USVs, the Navy can enhance its distributed presence, reduce risks to personnel, and maintain a watchful eye on potential threats. This would enable the Navy to respond more effectively to emerging challenges and maintain its position as a dominant force in the Indian Ocean region.