Mumbai: In what would be a red letter day for the Indian Navy, two frontline warships Nilgiri and Surat, and submarine Vaghsheer would be commissioned on January 15 adding significantly to the blue water force.
This was the first time that two warships and a submarine would be commissioned parallel on the same day.
All three combatants have been designed and constructed entirely at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
While Nilgiri is the lead ship of the Project 17 A stealth frigate class (Nilgiri-class), Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class (Visakhapatnam class).
Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine of the Scorpene-class project.
These inductions align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
“This historic event will provide a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s combat potential while underscoring the country’s pre-eminent status in indigenous shipbuilding. The successful commissioning of these advanced warships and submarines highlights the rapid progress made in warship design and construction, cementing India’s position as a global leader in defence manufacturing,” an Indian Navy official said on Wednesday.
Nilgiri is a major advancement over the Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating significant stealth features and reduced radar signatures through state-of-the-art technology.
Surat is the culmination of the follow-on class to the Kolkata-class destroyers, featuring substantial improvements in design and capabilities.
Both ships were designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and are equipped with advanced sensors and weapon packages developed primarily in India or through strategic collaborations with leading global manufacturers.
Equipped with modern aviation facilities, Nilgiri and Surat can operate a range of helicopters, including Chetak, ALH, Sea King, and the newly inducted MH-60R, during both day and night operations.
