INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer Commissioned: India's Naval Power Strengthened
16-01-2025
04:30 AM
1 min read
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in News?
- What is INS Nilgiri?
- What is INS Surat?
- What is INS Vaghsheer?
- Commissioning Ceremony of Three Vessels
Why in News?
Three frontline combatants were commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai: INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class; INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class; and INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine.
What is INS Nilgiri?
- Nilgiri-Class Stealth Frigates: An Overview
- The Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, developed under Project 17A, are advanced follow-on vessels of the Shivalik-class (Project 17).
- These multi-mission frigates are designed for blue-water operations, capable of handling both conventional and non-conventional threats.
- Key Features and Capabilities
- Integrated construction for faster building times.
- 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.
- Versatile roles in anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
- INS Nilgiri: Lead Ship of Project 17A
- Construction and Launch: Keel laid on December 28, 2017; launched on September 28, 2019.
- Sea Trials: Began in August 2023, followed by comprehensive harbour and sea trials.
- Delivery: Handed over to the Navy in December 2024.
- Other Ships in the Class
- The remaining six frigates — Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, Vindhyagiri — are under construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
What is INS Surat?
- INS Surat: Overview of Project 15B Destroyers
- INS Surat is the fourth and final stealth guided missile destroyer under Project 15B, following INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, and INS Imphal, commissioned over the last three years.
- It represents an advanced iteration of the Kolkata-class destroyers built under Project 15A.
- Key Features of INS Surat
- India's First AI-Enabled Warship: Utilizes indigenously developed artificial intelligence solutions for enhanced operational efficiency.
- Specifications:
- Displacement: 7,400 tonnes.
- Length: 164 metres.
- Speed: Achieved speeds exceeding 30 knots (56 km/h) during sea trials.
- Advanced Armaments: Equipped with state-of-the-art surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and modern sensors for network-centric warfare.
- Project 15B: Evolution of Stealth Destroyers
- Built as an advanced variant of the Kolkata-class destroyers under Project 15A (INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai).
- Contract Signing: January 2011, for four destroyers designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by MDL.
- Named after major Indian cities representing the four corners of the country.
- Role of Destroyers in Naval Operations
- High-speed, manoeuvrable warships with greater strike capability and endurance.
- Critical assets for offensive operations and network-centric warfare, integrating force elements using advanced IT and communication tools.
What is INS Vaghsheer?
- INS Vaghsheer: Overview of the Kalvari Class Submarine
- 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.
- Design and Capabilities
- Based on the Scorpene Class: Developed from the Scorpene design by French defence major Naval Group and Spanish entity Navantia.
- Diesel-Electric System: Primarily "attack" or "hunter-killer" submarines, built to target and destroy adversary naval vessels.
- Silent and Versatile: Known as one of the world’s most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines.
- Mission Versatility
- Wide Range of Missions: Includes anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.
- Armament: Equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems.
- Naming and Heritage
- Named After Sandfish: INS Vaghsheer is named after a species of sandfish found in the Indian Ocean.
- Historical Significance: 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.
Commissioning Ceremony of Three Vessels
- About the news
- 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.
- Significance of the Vessels
- Indigenous Construction: All three vessels are Made in India, underscoring India's growing self-reliance in defense capabilities.
- Development Timeline: The journey from design to commissioning of these ships spanned 10 to 15 years, reflecting the long-term investment in naval infrastructure.
- Strategic Importance
- Enhancing Naval Power: The addition of these platforms strengthens India’s defense capabilities, contributing to the Navy’s force level needed to deter regional threats.
- Bolstering Maritime Influence: These ships are key to enhancing India’s strategic maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
- Dual Military and Economic Significance
- The commissioning of these vessels holds both military and economic importance, strengthening India’s defense posture and reinforcing its role as a key player in global maritime security.
Q.1. What is the significance of INS Nilgiri in the Indian Navy?
INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of Project 17A, is an advanced stealth frigate designed for blue-water operations. It strengthens India's defense with capabilities in anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, contributing to India’s naval dominance.
Q.2. How does INS Surat enhance India's naval power?
INS Surat is India’s first AI-enabled warship, equipped with advanced armaments and sensors. It strengthens India's defense capabilities, supports network-centric warfare, and enhances strategic maritime influence, playing a vital role in deterring regional threats.