Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation three frontline naval combatants – INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer.
PM Narendra Modi Commissioned INS Surat, INS Nilgiri & INS Vaghsheer
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation three frontline naval combatants – INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer – on their commissioning at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra on January 15, 2025. On 2025 being declared the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh voiced the resolve to work on the reforms necessary for the Ministry and the three Services.
The vessels that have entered the Navy are the destroyer INS Surat, the last of the four Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers; the frigate INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of a new class of seven stealth guided-missile frigates being built under Project 17 Alpha; and the submarine INS Vagsheer, the sixth and the last of the first batch of the Kalvari-class diesel-electric attack submarines.
Nilgiri is dedicated to the maritime power of the Chola dynasty. The Surat warship reminds us of the period when India was connected to West Asia through the ports of Gujarat. India gave the mantra SAGAR — Security And Growth for All in the Region.
INS Nilgiri
INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class, represents a significant advancement over the Shivalik-class frigates. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), it incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability and seakeeping, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates.
It features advanced stealth technology and reduced radar signatures. It is equipped with modern aviation facilities and can operate multiple helicopter types, including the newly inducted MH-60R.
INS Surat
INS Surat, the fourth and final vessel of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class, is a follow-on to the Kolkata class destroyers. It incorporates improvements in design and capability, making it a critical addition to the Navy’s surface fleet. Like INS Nilgiri, it has also been designed by the Warship Design Bureau and constructed at the MDL.
INS Vaghsheer
INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine under the Scorpene-class Project 75. It is a diesel-electric submarine designed for multiple roles, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering. It features modular construction, enabling future upgrades such as air-independent propulsion technology.
The combatants have undergone extensive trials and are now fully operational, ready to enhance the Navy’s maritime strength.
