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Look at the Houthi situation right now. Till now we used to discuss Naval strategies with Pakistan and Chinese in mind. Now we have suddenly become the biggest protectors in the Aden region, carrying completely different missions. Gone deep into this mission - MARCOs, guided missile destroyers and frigates deep.Japanese are trying to mimic nuclear submarine endurance with their Taigei class. We don't need that since we are building a separate fleet of SSN. Our diesel submarines will not go far beyond our shores. So we can do something cheaper and more reasonable.
The US-led Coalition of Prosperity has initiated air strikes against Houthis, but who is securing the seas? Who is boarding vessels and neutralizing threats to sailors and goods ship-by-ship? Us.
I foresee a situation where Iran might supply Houthis with midget submarines for more attacks once their surface strategy fails. Iran can make simple midget submarines that they can train Houthis. against ships.
They can assure Dr Jaishankar all they want in an air-conditioned meeting hall with ornate furniture meant for foreign guests, but Houthis in the middle of the sea won't care who they attack. A Maltese ship sailing with a mixed Indian crew and flying the flag of Thailand can be carrying our exports or imports worth billions. How would they know that the ship is carrying our stuff and "not to sink or hijack it? They are a bunch of illiterate jihadis who have no formal education except pulling the trigger or whatever training Iranian secret units impart to them.
If the Japanese are mimicking the SSN range, then the Taigei class is exactly what we need. It's not just the Arabian Sea and Bab Al Mandeb that we need to protect; the Bay of Bengal and the entire Indian Ocean will soon become our area of operations. Our submarines will need to go deep to provide cover if this battle or any other submersible threat emerges. Range and ammunition are never enough.
Besides, the US will maintain a presence but it is no guarantee that they will be friendly to us in the coming decade or two. Before the friendly hand withdraws, we need to take as much as we can.
Getting Kawasaki to work with MDL or CSL is of utmost importance to get their submarine technology with us. It is a huge bill but the investment will pay off in a decade seeing the bigger role that we are going to have.