
IN CONVERSATION WITH REAR ADMIRAL MONTY KHANNA
Assistant Military Advisor, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), New Delhi.
Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, AVSM, NM (Retd) is appointed at the NSCS in New Delhi as the Assistant Military Adviser and has been officiating as the Military Adviser since September 2022. His afloat commands include Indian Naval Submarine Sindhuvijay and the Frigates Krishna and Gomati. In addition to tenures as Naval Assistant to the VCNS and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, he was also the Naval Attaché at the Embassy of India, Washington D C. He was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in 2000 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2017. He has published over 20 articles in professional journals that include ORF issue briefs, maritime affairs, and the United States Naval Institute proceedings. He also regularly delivers lectures on a wide variety of subjects that include Leadership, Naval and Military Strategy, Geo-Politics of the Indo-Pacific, Developments within the PLA Navy, Ship Building and Restructuring our Armed Forces.
Submarines are among the most secretive and sophisticated military assets in the modern world. Designed for stealth and endurance, they offer nations unmatched control in underwater operations and deterrence. For India, submarines represent both a technological achievement and a strategic necessity in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. Yet, beyond their combat capabilities, submarines also serve as floating laboratories, gathering vital data on oceanic conditions, acoustic properties, and marine geography. This discussion explores the dual identity of India’s submarines: as instruments of war and as potential platforms for scientific exploration. Through a detailed analysis of India’s current fleet, technological trajectory, operational challenges, and psychological toll, the conversation reveals the complexity of building and sustaining an undersea force in the 21st century.
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