Mumbai: Dedicating the three frontline naval combatants, INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer, to the nation in a ceremony in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India was emerging as a ‘major maritime power in the world’.
With the arrival of INS Vaghsheer (a ‘hunter-killer’ submarine), INS Surat (a guided missile destroyer) and INS Nilgiri (a stealth frigate), the Indian Navy is expected to strengthen its maritime presence. This will act as a deterrent to adversaries like China and Pakistan.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three advanced naval combatants-INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer- to the nation at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai
(Source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/eP7XaNLp4I
— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had given new strength and a new vision to the Indian Navy. Today, on his holy land, we are taking a very big step towards strengthening the Navy of the 21st century. This is the first time that a destroyer, a frigate and a submarine, all three are being commissioned together,” the Prime Minister said during the commissioning of these naval combatants.
Here’s all that you need to know about these combatants
INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, 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.
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. It has an indigenous content of 75% and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities.
15 January 2025
A Historic Occasion – Commissioning of Surat, Nilgiri and Vaghsheer.
The landmark ceremony will be Presided over by the Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi@PMOIndia#AatmanirbharBharat#IndianNavy#CombatReady #Credible #Cohesive & #FutureReady Force pic.twitter.com/pkxJGVursz— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 14, 2025
INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project, represents India’s growing expertise in submarine construction and has been constructed in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.
