Indian Navy Commissions Three New Vessels

Three new major additions — a submarine, a frigate, and a destroyer — have been welcomed into the Indian Navy on the same day.

At a special ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, yesterday (Wednesday), Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over proceedings as the Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer, the Project 17A-class frigate INS Nilgiri, and the Project 15B-class destroyer INS Surat were formally commissioned.

As per a press statement, at the ceremony PM Modi hailed the moment as “a big day for India’s maritime heritage” and “a major step towards empowering the 21st-century Navy,” adding: “India is emerging as a major maritime power.”

He also noted the success of the ongoing Make in India initiative, praising the role of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, where all three of the new platforms were built.

Over the past decade the Indian Navy has acquired a total of 33 ships and seven submarines, 39 of which have been built in Indian shipyards, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and nuclear subs INS Arihant and INS Arighat. The country is also now exporting defence equipment to over 100 nations, said PM Modi.

The 67.5-metre INS Vagsheer was built by MDL and is the Indian Navy’s sixth Kalvari-class attack submarine, a variant of the Scorpène-class diesel-electric vessels designed by French defence contractor Naval Group.

It is armed with wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet anti-ship missiles and is suitable for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, special operations and ISR missions.

The 149-metre Project 17A-class frigate INS Nilgiri is the first of seven such vessels due to be built for the Indian Navy, an upgrade on the previous Shivalik class. The new boat boasts improved stealth features including a more sloped superstructure, infrared suppression technology and acoustic damping. 

Its weapons include supersonic cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and torpedoes, as well as an upgraded 76mm rapid-fire gun and two 30mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS).

The 163-metre INS Surat is the fourth and last of the Project 15B-class destroyers and boasts featuring significant design and capability upgrades to its sister ships, the Visakhapatnam, the Mormugao and the Imphal.

It boasts similar weapons capabilities to the Nilgiri and also features a hangar and flight deck capable of accommodating two multi-role helicopters.

• You can read more details about the commissioning ceremony on the Indian PM's website