The Indian Navy is set to significantly enhance its operational capabilities with the commissioning of three major platforms – a submarine and two warships – in Mumbai on January 15th.
This move strengthens the Navy's combat readiness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a strategically vital area where India faces challenges such as China's growing influence and the need to uphold the rules-based international order.
The platforms joining the fleet include 'Vagsheer', the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine, 'Surat', a guided missile destroyer, and 'Nilgiri', a stealth frigate. All three were built at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). It is unusual for three major platforms to be commissioned on the same day, highlighting the significance of this event for the Indian Navy.
'Vagsheer' is the last of the six Kalvari-class (Scorpene) diesel-electric attack submarines built under Project 75, a ₹23,562-crore program. These submarines, constructed at MDL with technology transfer from France's Naval Group, are capable of undertaking various missions, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, long-range strikes, special operations, and intelligence gathering.
'Surat', built under a ₹35,000-crore project, is the fourth and final ship of the P-15B class of guided missile stealth destroyers. Notably, it will be the Navy's first artificial intelligence-enabled warship, employing indigenously developed solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
'Nilgiri' is the first of seven P-17A frigates being constructed at MDL and Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. The remaining ships are in various stages of construction and are expected to be delivered to the Navy over the next two years.
This commissioning ceremony comes on the heels of other recent developments aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy's capabilities. The defence ministry recently signed contracts to retrofit the Kalvari-class submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems for enhanced endurance and to integrate electronic heavyweight torpedoes (EHWT) for increased firepower.
Furthermore, INS Tushil, an upgraded Krivak III class frigate built in Russia with significant indigenous content, is expected to arrive on India's western coast in mid-February. his frigate is part of a larger deal for four Krivak/Talwar class stealth frigates, two of which will be built in India with technology transfer from Russia.
These additions to the Indian Navy's fleet underscore India's commitment to modernizing its naval forces and maintaining a strong presence in the IOR to safeguard its maritime interests and contribute to regional stability.
