Western Fleet (India)

Western Fleet
Founded1 March 1968
Country India
Branch Indian Navy
TypeFleet
Part ofWestern Naval Command
HeadquartersMumbai
Commanders
FOCWFRear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale, NM
Notable
commanders		Rear Admiral E C Kuruvila, PVSM, AVSM

The Western Fleet is a Naval fleet of the Indian Navy. It is known as the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy.[1] It is headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra on the west coast of India. It is a part of the Western Naval Command and is responsible for the naval forces in the Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The Western Fleet was formally constituted on 1 March 1968.[1] The Fleet is commanded by a Two Star Flag Officer of the rank of Rear Admiral with the title Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). Rear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale is the current FOCWF, who took over on 23 August 2024. The current flagship of the Western Fleet is the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya (R33). The newer IAC-1, INS Vikrant, has also joined the Western fleets carrier battle group.[2]

The Western Fleet in 2014 with the Aircraft Carriers INS Vikramaditya (R33) (flagship) and INS Viraat (R22) in the Arabian Sea
  1. ^ a b "Western Fleet Celebrates Golden Jubilee | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
  2. ^ Bose, Mrityunjay. "Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joins Western Fleet". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2024.