Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the commissioning ceremony of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer at Naval Dockyard Mumbai

Mumbai, January 15, 2025: Three advanced warships of the Indian Navy’s latest class are now part of India’s defensive arm. Naval warships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned on Wednesday at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming the ceremony as a new step towards a self-reliant and technologically advanced defensive mechanism for global leadership.

The Prime Minister also took to X (formerly Twitter) to state, “The commissioning of these frontline combatants strengthens India’s maritime capabilities and underlines our resolve to lead in defence self-reliance”.

INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the Project 17A stealth frigate class, embodies advanced naval engineering. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), it represents a leap forward from the Shivalik-class frigates.

Equipped with state-of-the-art stealth technology and reduced radar signatures, INS Nilgiri is built with advanced seakeeping capabilities and modern aviation facilities. It is meant to operate multiple helicopters, including the newly inducted MH-60R, which enhances its multi-role combat potential.

The last among the four destroyers in Project 15B class, INS Surat is another evolution of Kolkata-class destroyers. Similar to INS Nilgiri, INS Surat is designed by Warship Design Bureau and constructed in MDL. It incorporates immense advancements in both design and the combat capability into its arsenal for the Navy surface fleet.

INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and last submarine of the Scorpene-class Project 75, marks the country’s progress in submarine technology. It is a diesel-electric submarine capable of undertaking all types of operations: anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering. In addition, it has a modular structure to add on more air-independent propulsion technology to improve its endurance for operational missions.

The Indian Navy described the commissioning as a historic milestone in the nation’s journey towards defence self-reliance. All three vessels were entirely designed and built in India, showcasing the country’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and commitment to the “Make in India” initiative.

The warships, after successfully completing extensive sea trials, are now fully operational and ready to bolster the Navy’s maritime strength and ensure the security of the nation’s vast coastline and maritime interests.

This commissioning underlines India’s commitment to modernizing its naval fleet with advanced technology and indigenous design, marking another step forward in the country’s defence preparedness.