The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned three new combat vessels at an event in Mumbai to bolster its capabilities amid rising challenges in the seas around the country from state and non-state actors.
The vessels include guided-missile destroyer INS Surat, stealth frigate INS Nilgiri and diesel-electric submarine INS Vagsheer that are equipped with the latest weapons and sensors.
The two warships also include specific accommodations to support a sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the Indian Navy's steps toward gender inclusion in frontline combat roles.
All three platforms have been designed and constructed entirely at Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
INS Surat
INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world, according to the Ministry of Defence. It has an indigenous content of 75% and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities.
The destroyer is the culmination of the follow-on class to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers and features substantial improvements in design and capabilities.
INS Nilgiri
The first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, INS Nilgiri has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping, and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates.
Equipped with modern aviation facilities, Nilgiri and Surat can operate a range of helicopters, including Chetak, Advanced Light Helicopters, Sea King and the newly inducted MH-60R.
INS Vaghsheer
The vessel is the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project. INS Vaghsheer was constructed in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.
It is designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance and special operations.
Armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and advanced sonar systems, the submarine also features modular construction, allowing for future upgrades such as the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.
India has inducted 33 ships and seven submarines in the Navy over the past decade, with 39 out of 40 naval vessels being built in Indian shipyards. This includes the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and nuclear submarines like INS Arihant and INS Arighat.
The rapid naval expansion comes in the background of rising Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region. Piracy in western Arabian Sea region near Africa and sea-borne attacks by the Houthi group in waters around Yemen have disrupted commercial shipping.
The Indian Navy has bolstered its deployment in sensitive areas and ramped up monitoring capabilities to deter threats. It also regularly collaborates with friendly powers like the US, France, UK, Australia and UAE in the ocean.
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