NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday achieved a major as the Indian Navy increased its prowess following the induction of three domestically manufactured naval vessels – two warships and a submarine – into its fleet. The commissioning of the indigenous vessels highlighted India’s growing military manufacturing capabilities.
The move is seen as a strategic response to China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean region and Pakistan’s naval expansion plans, which include Chinese assistance to build a 50-vessel fleet.
“India is now becoming a major maritime power… (and) the commissioning of three frontline naval combatants will strengthen our efforts to become a global leader and augment our quest for self-reliance,” PM Modi said at the commissioning ceremony INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer.
“We have taken a big step towards getting the Navy ready for this century,” he added.
This commissioning of these vessels holds major importance for the Indian Navy, considering the traditionally slow pace of domestic shipbuilding, especially crucial now as China continues its rapid naval expansion.
India’s naval expansion in the past ten years has seen the addition of 33 warships, while China has reportedly inducted 148 vessels during the same period.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that these additions will strengthen the naval forces’ operational capabilities in protecting national maritime interests. He also confirmed that 62 warships and a submarine are currently under construction.
What are the newly inducted vessels: Details
The INS Nilgiri is a stealth-capable vessel, which leads Project 17A’s seven-frigate fleet, and is a major advancement from the existing Shivalik-class vessels.
Each vessel in this series, designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, costs approximately Rs 4,000 crore. These ships, featuring enhanced attack and stealth capabilities, are under construction at dockyards in Mumbai and Kolkata.
Captain Nitin Kapoor, commanding the Nilgiri, explained that the vessel’s superior stealth characteristics result from its innovative deck design. He said that conventional elements like anchors are now housed in a concealed ‘mooring deck’ to minimise radar detection.
INS Surat is a guided missile destroyer weighing around 8,000 tons and is also the final vessel of the Visakhapatnam class.
It has integrated subsystems from Russian, Israeli and Ukrainian warships, while also being India’s first warship with artificial intelligence capabilities.
The vessel, costing Rs 8,950 crore, completes the quartet of Project 15B ships.
Its predecessors – INS Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, and Imphal – were commissioned in November 2021, December 2022, and December 2023, respectively.
The armament includes BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for surface-to-surface engagement, Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles, alongside various mounted artillery systems.
INS Vagsheer is a submarine having advanced stealth capabilities, including sophisticated acoustic absorption technology and an innovative air-independent propulsion system.
This vessel represents the final addition to the six new-generation, diesel-electric Scorpene-class submarines. With capabilities to launch torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, it can engage targets both in air and sea domains.
These latest submarines are equipped for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering, mine deployment, and surveillance activities, according to official sources. Each Scorpene-class submarine carries a price tag of Rs 3,942 crore.