India Strengthens Maritime Defense, PM Dedicates Three Frontline Naval Combatants to the Nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15, 2025, will launch the three frontline naval combatants Surat, Nilgiri, and Vaghsheer at a commissioning ceremony to be hosted in the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. This event clearly shows India has come a long way in transforming into a ‘Make in India” Naval Power and will open up a new era in the defense proposition of the country in the 21st Century. As these ships and submarines are completely or almost built in India, commissioning demonstrates India’s ascending naval strength and programs and the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The Prime Minister highlighted that India is committed to being a dependable Maritime Partner for the stability of the seas and his government stressed that these platforms serve the purpose of propelling national security, and economic growth and possessing a strategic influence across the world.

Key Highlights of the Event:

• INS Surat (Guided Missile Destroyer):

  • The P15B project’s fourth and final ship is a guided missile destroyer.

  • Still, amongst the most advanced in the world and 75% Malaysian-made.

  • Fitted with modern weapon systems, weapon suites, sensors, and system networks.

• INS Nilgiri (Stealth Frigate):

  • The first of the order of the programmed P17A Stealth Frigate project.

  • Developed by the Indian Navy Warship Design Bureau with state of the art in survivability, seakeeping, and stealth characteristics.

  • Is the successor of the indigenous Frigates.

• INS Vaghsheer (Scorpene-Class Submarine):

  • The sixth P75 Scorpene series submarine demonstrates India’s expanding capacity in submarine construction.

  • Developed in cooperation with the Naval Group of France, however, mostly locally manufactured.

Important Indian Navy Projects

• Project 15B: Guided-Missile Destroyers

  • Objective: Design a more advanced vessel of the Kolkata-class destroyers.

  • Builder: Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).

  • Ships in the Project:

    • INS Vishakapatnam: Commissioned.

    • INS Mormogaon: Ready for trials.

    • INS Imphal: Advanced stage of outfitting.

    • INS Surat: Expected to launch in 2022.

• Project 75: Kalvari-Class Submarines

  • Objective: Purchase of six diesel-electric attack submarines capable of conducting ‘Kalvari’ class operations.

  • Key Features:

    • Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for an added time of sub-merge operations.

    • Derived from Scorpene-class Submarines (by French Naval Group and  Navantia).

  • Submarines under P75:

    • INS Kalvari (launched 2015, Commissioned 2017).

    • INS Khanderi (joined service 2019).

    • INS Karanj ( expected commissioning 2021)

    • INS Vela (commissioned 2021).

    • INS Vagir (launched 2020).

    • INS Vagsheer (Expected to Join 2021).

  • Purpose: Combat patrols and scouting, intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship engagements, and mining.

• Project 75I: India-Class Submarines

  • Objective: Six new generation diesel-electric submarines equipped with AIP.

  • Key Features:

    • Gearing AIP, ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance), Special Operations Forces (SOF) capabilities, and warfare capabilities including antisubmarine warfare (ASW), anti-ship warfare (ASuW), antisubmarine helicopter warfare (AShW) and land attack.

• Indian Navy’s 30-Year Submarine Building Plan

  • Initiated in 1999 for the construction of 24 submarines by 2030.

    • 6 nuclear-powered submarines (INS Arihant, INS Arighat, and others).

    • 18 conventional submarines (including those under Projects 75 and 75I).

  • Current status: With commissioned INS Arihant India’s only nuclear-powered submarine and on the other hand INS Arighat is to be commissioned soon.

Conclusion

The launch of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer has been one of the memorable achievements towards making India a global maritime power and a defense manufacturing hub in the world. Not only does the event indicate the improvement of the Indian Navy, but it is also a positive indicator of the political elevation of India in terms of geopolitical, economic growth, and strategic security framework of the region and indeed the global arena. With India modernizing its military and defense infrastructure at present, the Make in India target is important in cutting dependence on foreign parts suppliers, the growth of the economy, and the provision of employment. This course signals a giant leap towards the realization of India’s dream of a developed country with a robust, indigenous defense industry.