Conflict catalog

2019 Operation Sankalp: Weapons and Equipment

Indian Navy maritime-security operation covering Gulf-region shipping protection and later expanded Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Somalia-adjacent counter-piracy and merchant-shipping response.

2019 Operation Sankalp is an Indian Navy maritime-security operation that began in the Gulf region after attacks on merchant shipping and later expanded to North and Central Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Somalia-adjacent areas during the renewed 2023-2024 maritime threat period.

This catalog tracks Indian Navy systems directly documented in 2019 Operation Sankalp maritime-security deployments, escort missions, boarding support, or response to merchant-shipping threats.

Because Op Sankalp includes presence, surveillance, escort, and boarding activity, weapon entries should not imply combat firing unless a source directly supports a launch, intercept, or armed engagement.

2 weapon systems

Conflict Actors

Indian Navy / Piracy and maritime threat actors

Piracy and maritime threat actors

0 weapon systems in this catalog
  • Piracy and maritime threat actors

Context

Status
Published catalog
Location
Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and western Indian Ocean approaches
Countries
India, Oman, Yemen, Somalia
Regions
Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Western Indian Ocean
Domains
maritime, naval, maritime security, counter-piracy, boarding operations, escort

The catalog is for Indian Navy platforms, aircraft, sensors, and embarked forces that sources directly tie to Op Sankalp deployments, interceptions, escorts, boarding support, or maritime-security response. Entries should distinguish operational deployment and escort from confirmed weapons firing unless a source directly documents a launch or engagement.

Map

Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and western Indian Ocean approaches

Open map

Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Timeline

Key Events

  1. Operation Sankalp begins

    PIB said the Indian Navy began Op Sankalp after Gulf of Oman merchant-shipping incidents and deployed INS Chennai and INS Sunayna for maritime-security operations.

    Sources: Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIB

  2. INS Chennai responds to MV Lila Norfolk

    PIB reported that INS Chennai reached the hijacking scene, supported aerial reconnaissance and MARCOS boarding, and escorted the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier after the crew was rescued.

    Sources: MV Lila Norfolk Response | PIB

  3. Navy marks 100 days of expanded maritime-security operations

    PIB said the Indian Navy had responded to 18 incidents since mid-December 2023 and operated in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and off Somalia under Op Sankalp.

    Sources: Op Sankalp 100 Days | PIB

External Support

PIB describes Op Sankalp as an Indian Navy operation coordinated with Indian government maritime stakeholders; 2024 reporting also refers to coordinated missions with the Indian Air Force and national agencies during the expanded response period.

Weapons

2019 Operation Sankalp Weapon Systems

Category

Naval Systems

Warships, submarines, unmanned surface vessels, naval craft, and maritime combat systems.

2/2
INS Chennai, Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsINS ChennaiIndian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyerSide: Indian NavyRole: Maritime-security response and escortBuilt: Mazagon Dock Limited / IndiaINS Chennai is an Indian Navy Kolkata-class Project 15A stealth guided-missile destroyer built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai and commissioned in 2016. The ship combines BrahMos strike missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surveillance radar, torpedo and rocket launchers, and documented Op Sankalp maritime-security service, including the January 2024 MV Lila Norfolk response.
Kolkata-class destroyer, Stealth guided-missile destroyer class, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsKolkata-class destroyerStealth guided-missile destroyer classSide: Indian NavyRole: Maritime-security response, escort, and anti-piracy interdictionBuilt: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited / IndiaThe Kolkata-class destroyer is India's Project 15A stealth guided-missile destroyer class, designed by the Indian Navy and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai entered service from 2014 to 2016 with BrahMos strike missiles, Barak-8/MRSAM air defense, anti-submarine weapons, and documented Op Sankalp maritime-security service through named class members.

Conflict Sources

Op Sankalp is a maritime-security operation rather than a conventional front-line war. Attach only systems directly named in official or high-quality reporting for deployments, escorts, boarding support, or specific response actions.

  • Indian Navy Executes Op Sankalp | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the launch of Op Sankalp on June 19, 2019 and the deployment of INS Chennai and INS Sunayna for Gulf-region maritime-security operations. | Accessed: 2026-07-01
  • MV Lila Norfolk Response | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports INS Chennai's January 2024 response to the MV Lila Norfolk hijacking attempt, including arrival on scene, boarding support, and escort context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01
  • Op Sankalp 100 Days | PIBPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports the expanded December 2023 to March 2024 Op Sankalp maritime-security scope, incident count, operating areas, ship days, and boarding-operation context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01