A navy with the capability to operate across the deep waters of the open oceans, far from its own coast, sustaining power projection and prolonged deployments well beyond home waters, as opposed to a coastal "brown-water" or regional "green-water" force.
Blue-water capability ties together naval modernisation, maritime security and India's Indian Ocean role; the brown, green and blue distinction, carriers, and the SAGAR and net-security-provider links are commonly tested.
"Blue-water" refers to open-ocean reach, not merely a large navy; carriers, nuclear submarines and replenishment ships, not numbers alone, mark the transition from a coastal to an oceanic navy. It complements, rather than replaces, the coastal-security layers handled by the marine police and Coast Guard.
A navy able to operate across the open oceans far from home (carriers, nuclear submarines, fleet support), underpinning India's Indian Ocean and second-strike roles.
concept sagar doctrine, concept andaman nicobar command, concept second strike capability, concept coastal security scheme