Three Indian Navy Warships Commissioned in Mumbai in Historic Ceremony
Mumbai: Indian Navy warships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.
The commissioning of these frontline combatants marks a significant milestone in bolstering India’s defense capabilities and advancing its journey towards self-reliance, PM Modi stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
The Navy hailed the event as a historic occasion.
INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class, represents a major technological leap over the earlier Shivalik-class frigates. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), it incorporates advanced features for improved stealth, survivability, and seakeeping.
Equipped with cutting-edge stealth technology to minimize radar signatures, INS Nilgiri also boasts modern aviation facilities, capable of operating various helicopters, including the newly inducted MH-60R, enhancing its operational versatility.
INS Surat and INS Vaghsheer: Strengthening India’s Naval Power
INS Surat, the final vessel in the Project 15B stealth destroyer class, is an advanced successor to the Kolkata-class destroyers. Featuring significant design and capability upgrades, it plays a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s surface fleet. Like INS Nilgiri, INS Surat was designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
INS Vaghsheer, the last submarine of the Scorpene-class under Project 75, is a versatile diesel-electric submarine designed for multiple operations, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as intelligence missions. Its modular construction supports future technological upgrades, such as air-independent propulsion systems.
The commissioning of these vessels marks a major achievement in India’s pursuit of defense self-reliance, showcasing the nation’s growing expertise in indigenous warship and submarine production.
Designed and built entirely in India, all three platforms—INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer—have undergone rigorous trials and are now fully operational. These combatants are set to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime capabilities, officials stated.Indian Navy
