Navy gets 'hunter-killer' submarine, warships; PM says emerging as maritime power

In a ceremony held at Mumbai's Naval Dockyard, PM Modi dedicated the three combatants -- INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer -- to the nation.

In Short

• PM Modi dedicates three frontline naval combatants in Mumbai
• INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer to increase Navy's capabilities
• PM to also inaugurate Iskcon Temple in Navi Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday dedicated three frontline naval combatants, INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer, to the nation in a ceremony in Mumbai.

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 poised to strengthen its maritime presence, acting as a deterrent to adversaries like China and Pakistan.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Modi said that India is emerging as a "major maritime power in the world" and the expanding ship-building industry will help in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

"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," PM Modi said.

"Today, India is recognised as a reliable and responsible partner globally, especially in the Global South. India works in the spirit of development, not expansionism. India has always supported an open, secure, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," PM Modi added.

As per Navy officials, INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project, was constructed in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

INS Vaghsheer, also known as the 'hunter-killer' submarine, is equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles and is capable of both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare apart from intelligence gathering and mine-laying capabilities. As per defence experts, it is poised to strengthen India’s maritime dominance and act as a deterrent to adversaries like China and Pakistan.

INS Surat, a guided missile destroyer, is one of the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world with an indigenous content of 75 per cent and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities, as per Navy officials.

Similarly, 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, they said.

Later in the day, in another function during his visit to Maharashtra, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate an Iskcon Temple in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.