{"id":44536,"date":"2025-01-16T09:41:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T04:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=44536"},"modified":"2025-05-06T12:18:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T06:48:13","slug":"ins-nilgiri-ins-surat-and-ins-vaghsheer-commissioned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ins-nilgiri-ins-surat-and-ins-vaghsheer-commissioned\/","title":{"rendered":"INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer Commissioned: India&#8217;s Naval Power Strengthened"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in News?<\/li>\n<li>What is INS Nilgiri?<\/li>\n<li>What is INS Surat?<\/li>\n<li>What is INS Vaghsheer?<\/li>\n<li>Commissioning Ceremony of Three Vessels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Three frontline combatants were commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai: <strong>INS Nilgiri<\/strong>, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class; <strong>INS Surat<\/strong>, the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class; and <strong>INS Vaghsheer<\/strong>, the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is INS Nilgiri?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nilgiri-Class Stealth Frigates: An Overview<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, developed under Project 17A, are advanced follow-on vessels of the Shivalik-class (Project 17).\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>These multi-mission frigates are designed for blue-water operations, capable of handling both conventional and non-conventional threats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Features and Capabilities<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Integrated construction for faster building times.<\/li>\n<li>Equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM), upgraded 76 mm guns, and rapid-fire close-in weapon systems.<\/li>\n<li>Versatile roles in anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>INS Nilgiri: Lead Ship of Project 17A<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Construction and Launch<\/strong>: Keel laid on December 28, 2017; launched on September 28, 2019.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sea Trials<\/strong>: Began in August 2023, followed by comprehensive harbour and sea trials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Delivery<\/strong>: Handed over to the Navy in December 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other Ships in the Class<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The remaining six frigates \u2014 <strong>Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri<\/strong> \u2014 are under construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>What is INS Surat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>INS Surat: Overview of Project 15B Destroyers<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>INS Surat is the fourth and final stealth guided missile destroyer under Project 15B, following <strong>INS Visakhapatnam<\/strong>, <strong>INS Mormugao<\/strong>, and <strong>INS Imphal<\/strong>, commissioned over the last three years.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It represents an advanced iteration of the <strong>Kolkata-class destroyers<\/strong> built under Project 15A.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Features of INS Surat<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India&#8217;s First AI-Enabled Warship<\/strong>: Utilizes indigenously developed artificial intelligence solutions for enhanced operational efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Specifications<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Displacement: 7,400 tonnes.<\/li>\n<li>Length: 164 metres.<\/li>\n<li>Speed: Achieved speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km\/h) during sea trials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advanced Armaments<\/strong>: Equipped with state-of-the-art surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and modern sensors for network-centric warfare.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Project 15B: Evolution of Stealth Destroyers<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Built as an advanced variant of the Kolkata-class destroyers under Project 15A (INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai).<\/li>\n<li>Contract Signing: January 2011, for four destroyers designed by the Indian Navy&#8217;s Warship Design Bureau and built by MDL.\n<ul>\n<li>Named after major Indian cities representing the four corners of the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Role of Destroyers in Naval Operations<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>High-speed, manoeuvrable warships with greater strike capability and endurance.<\/li>\n<li>Critical assets for offensive operations and network-centric warfare, integrating force elements using advanced IT and communication tools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>What is INS Vaghsheer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>INS Vaghsheer: Overview of the Kalvari Class Submarine<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine of the modern Kalvari class built under Project 75, designed for stealth and versatility in naval operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Design and Capabilities<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Based on the Scorpene Class<\/strong>: Developed from the Scorpene design by French defence major Naval Group and Spanish entity Navantia.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diesel-Electric System<\/strong>: Primarily &#8220;attack&#8221; or &#8220;hunter-killer&#8221; submarines, built to target and destroy adversary naval vessels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Silent and Versatile<\/strong>: Known as one of the world\u2019s most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mission Versatility<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wide Range of Missions<\/strong>: Includes anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Armament<\/strong>: Equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Naming and Heritage<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Named After Sandfish<\/strong>: INS Vaghsheer is named after a species of sandfish found in the Indian Ocean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Historical Significance<\/strong>: The Kalvari class submarines take their names from decommissioned classes, including Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj, and the Vela class, reflecting the early Soviet-origin Foxtrot class submarines of the Indian Navy post-Independence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Commissioning Ceremony of Three Vessels<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>About the news<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the commissioning of INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer, marking the first time a destroyer, a frigate, and a submarine have been commissioned together in the Indian Navy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Significance of the Vessels<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Indigenous Construction<\/strong>: All three vessels are Made in India, underscoring India&#8217;s growing self-reliance in defense capabilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Development Timeline<\/strong>: The journey from design to commissioning of these ships spanned 10 to 15 years, reflecting the long-term investment in naval infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategic Importance<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Enhancing Naval Power<\/strong>: The addition of these platforms strengthens India\u2019s defense capabilities, contributing to the Navy\u2019s force level needed to deter regional threats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bolstering Maritime Influence<\/strong>: These ships are key to enhancing India\u2019s strategic maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dual Military and Economic Significance<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The commissioning of these vessels holds both military and economic importance, strengthening India\u2019s defense posture and reinforcing its role as a key player in global maritime security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Q.1. What is the significance of INS Nilgiri in the Indian Navy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of Project 17A, is an advanced stealth frigate designed for blue-water operations. It strengthens India&#8217;s defense with capabilities in anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, contributing to India\u2019s naval dominance.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Q.2. How does INS Surat enhance India&#8217;s naval power?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>INS Surat is India\u2019s first AI-enabled warship, equipped with advanced armaments and sensors. It strengthens India&#8217;s defense capabilities, supports network-centric warfare, and enhances strategic maritime influence, playing a vital role in deterring regional threats.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/information\/story\/ins-surat-nilgiri-and-vaghsheer-know-all-about-3-naval-vessels-2665100-2025-01-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/ins-surat-ins-nilgiri-and-ins-vaghshee-commissioned-three-cheers-for-indian-navy-9781179\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/information\/story\/ins-surat-nilgiri-and-vaghsheer-know-all-about-3-naval-vessels-2665100-2025-01-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IT<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prime Minister Modi commissions three major warships\u2014INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer\u2014marking a significant leap in India&#8217;s naval capabilities. These indigenous vessels enhance defense, maritime influence, and strategic deterrence in the Indian Ocean region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44536","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44536\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}