Context: The Indian Navy is set to commission indigenously built 2 frontline warships and 1 submarine at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
More On News:
- The Indian Navy is set to commission three major combat vessels:
- Nilgiri, the first ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class;
- Surat, the fourth and last ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class;
- Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the Scorpene-class project.
- All three platforms were built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
- The two ships are designed in India and the Scorpene-class submarines are built in India under license from the Naval Group of France.
Nilgiri Stealth Frigate
- It is a major advancement over the Shivalik class (Project 17).
- These multi-mission frigates are designed for blue water operations, addressing both conventional and non-conventional threats in India’s maritime domain.
- Built using an Integrated Construction philosophy to reduce build time, with pre-outfitting at the Block stages.
- Powered by Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants (Diesel Engine + Gas Turbine), driving Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP).
- Features an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
- Equipped with:
- Supersonic surface-to-surface missile system
- Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles
- 76 mm Upgraded Gun
- Rapid-fire close-in weapon systems
Surat Stealth destroyer
- It follows the commissioning of Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal in the past three years.
- The delivery of Surat completes the Indigenous destroyer building project of the Indian Navy, which began with:
- Project 15 (Delhi class: 1997-2001),Project 15A (Kolkata class: 2014-2016),
- Project 15B (Visakhapatnam class: 2021-2024).
- Surat is a guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons and an overall length of 164 meters.
- It is equipped with advanced weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
- It is powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion, with four gas turbines, achieving speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h).
- It is poised to be the Indian Navy’s first AI-enabled warship, using indigenously developed AI solutions to enhance operational efficiency.
Features:
- Nilgiri and Surat are equipped with modern aviation facilities.
- Both can operate various helicopters, including Chetak, Dhruv, Sea King and the new MH-60R, day and night.
- It also includes such as a Rail-Less Helicopter Traversing System and a Visual Aid and Landing System to ensure seamless operations under all conditions.
- Designed to support a significant number of women officers and sailors, supporting the Navy’s focus on gender inclusion in frontline combat roles.
Vaghsheer
- It is under the Kalvari-class Project 75.
- It is known for being one of the most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines in the world.
- Designed for a variety of missions, including:
- Anti-surface warfare
- Anti-submarine warfare
- Intelligence gathering
- Area surveillance
- Special operations
- Armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and advanced sonar systems.
- Features modular construction, allowing for future upgrades like Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.
Conclusion:
- The delivery of the vessels highlights India’s expertise in ship design, construction and engineering.
- It emphasizes the Indian Navy’s focus on Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in both ship design and building. The vessels have 75% indigenized content, with orders placed with numerous indigenous firms, including over 200 MSMEs in each shipyard.
- These projects have contributed to self-reliance, economic development, employment generation and the growth of MSMEs and the broader ecosystem in India.