 "INS Surat is an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a guided-missile destroyer.")
India’s Navy has just got a major upgrade today (January 15).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commissioned three ships – INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer — into service at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
Speaking just before the big moment, PM Modi said that the frontline naval combatants will strengthen India’s efforts towards being a global leader in defence and augment its quest towards self-reliance.
He even wrote on X on Tuesday, “Tomorrow, January 15, is going to be a special day as far as our naval capacities are concerned.”
All three ships have been built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
“The combined commissioning of Nilgiri, Surat, and Vaghsheer demonstrates India’s unparalleled progress in defense self-reliance and indigenous shipbuilding,” the government said in a press release.
The Centre added that these ships include specific accommodations to support a “sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the Navy’s progressive steps toward gender-inclusion in frontline combat roles.”
But what we know about the ships? Why are they special?
Let’s take a closer look:
INS Surat
As per MSN, INS Surat is an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a guided-missile destroyer.
The fourth and last ship in the Project 15B stealth destroyer class, INS Surat is a successor to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers.
INS Surat has a displacement of 7,400 tons and is 164 meters long.
It comes with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
It has a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set with four gas turbines.
The ship during trials hit speeds above 30 knots (56 kilometres per hour).
INS Surat will also be the Indian Navy’s first AI enabled warship.
Its indigenously developed Al greatly increases its operational efficiency.
It is the first warship to be named after a city of Gujarat.
It has an indigenous content of 75 per cent.
It allows for the operation of a vast range of helicopters including Chetak, ALH, Sea King, and the MH-60R.
Both day and night operations can be conducted on the INS Surat.
INS Surat’s keel was laid on November 7, 2019 and the ship was launched on May 17, 2022.
Finished in 31 months, INS Surat is the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built.
Its trials began on June 15, 2024 and ended on November 25, 2024, “within an unprecedented record time of just six months,” as per MSN.
INS Nilgiri
INS Nilgiri is also an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a stealth frigate.
As per The Week, INS Nilgiri is the first vessel from the P17A Stealth Frigate Project.
INS Nilgiri was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
It has advanced features that increase its stealth, survivability and seakeeping.
As per Times Now, INS Nilgiri has a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes.
INS Nilgiri comes with advanced weaponry and systems including eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, a 76-milimetre gun and an AK-630 close-in weapon system.
MDL says INS Nilgiri measures up to the finest ships in a similar class anywhere else in the world.
It can take on enemy submarines, surface warship, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircraft.
As per Times Now, the INS Nilgiri comes equipped with the MF-STAR radar.
Like the INS Surat, it allows a wide variety of helicopters including the MH-60R Seahawks to function from it.
It also has Rail-Less Helicopter Traversing System and Visual Aid and Landing System that allow operations to be run both during the day and at night.
As per Mint, Nilgiri’s keel was laid on December 28, 2017 and the ship was put into water on September 28, 2019.
The ship underwent her maiden sea trials in August.
As per Mint, Nilgiri is capable of operating in a ‘blue water’ environment and “dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats in the area of India’s Maritime Interests.”
“Nilgiri is enabled to operate independently without supporting vessels, and also to function as the flagship of Naval task force,” MDL said in a release.
INS Vaghsheer
INS Vaghsheer is a diesel-electric submarine.
As per MSN, INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine under the Kalvari-class Project 75.
As per Drishti IAS, Project-75 (India) is aimed at constructing 18 conventional submarines and six nuclear-powered submarines for the Indian Navy.
It is said to be among the most noiseless and adaptable diesel-electric submarines in the world.
As per Times Now, INS Vaghsheer has a displacement of 1,565 tonnes.
INS Vaghsheer can carry out a variety of missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.
It is equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems.
It also has modular construction which allows for future upgrades like Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology to be easily integrated.
The INS Vaghsheer’s advanced stealth capabilities includes a hydrodynamic shape that minimises noise and magnetic signatures, as per Times Now.
What do experts say?
That this is a giant step forward for India’s maritime abilities.
As per Deccan Herald, this is the first time that two warships and a submarine are being commissioned together.
A piece in Times Now said the development reaffirms the sea change in India’s indigenous shipbuilding industry.
Over the past decade, state-run shipyards like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) have significantly enhanced their efficiency, delivering world-class platforms like the Kolkata/Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and Kalvari-class submarines. MDL’s ability to produce combat-ready warships and submarines reflects India’s evolving technological and industrial prowess,” the piece argued.
It also said that the ships improve India’s maritime capabilities and allow it to safeguard its interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
“This historic event highlights India’s ability to meet the challenges of a contested geopolitical environment, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and position itself as a key maritime power. The simultaneous commissioning of INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer is a defining moment in India’s maritime history. It reflects decades of investment, innovation, and determination, setting the stage for India to emerge as a leader in the global maritime domain,” the piece argued.
An article in Financial Express said that India had made a statement with the commissioning of these three vessels at the same time.
“It underscores India’s growing maritime influence and its commitment to securing not only its own waters but also ensuring stability across the Indian Ocean and the broader Indo-Pacific region. In the face of rising tensions and increased naval activity in these waters—particularly from China—India’s enhanced naval capabilities will play a crucial role in ensuring the freedom of navigation and countering potential maritime threats,” the piece stated.
It also contended that these vessels reflect the Indian Navy’s broader strategy of self-sufficiency.
“As the country increasingly turns to indigenous solutions, it is making significant strides in its defence ecosystem. The successful construction of these platforms, built primarily with Indian technology, helps foster greater defence innovation and industrial growth while contributing to India’s “Make in India” initiative,” the piece argued.
The article called the commissioning of the ships a “transformative moment” for the Indian Navy.
It said that these vessels increase India’s ability to project its strength, defend itself and protect its interests. The vessels are also a symbol of India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the piece argued.
“As the world watches India bolster its maritime capabilities, the commissioning of these ships and submarines is a clear signal of the Navy’s readiness to defend the country’s strategic interests while ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. India’s naval future has never looked stronger, and the impact of this historic event will reverberate for years to come,” the piece concluded.
With inputs from agencies