By Ajai Shukla
Wednesday 01 Jan, 2025
On January 15th, 2025 the Indian Navy will commission three new frontline warships, all of them built in Indian shipyards.
These include INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of Project 17A – a class of seven stealth frigates; INS Surat, the fourth and final destroyer of the Project 15B class; and Vagsheer, the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine built under Project 76.
All three platforms have been designed and constructed entirely at the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in the critical domain of warship and submarine production.
INS Nilgiri is a major technological advancement over the Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating significant stealth features and reduced radar signatures through state-of-the-art technology.
The Project 15B destroyer, Surat, is the culmination of the follow-on class to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers, featuring substantial improvements in design and capabilities. Both these warship classes were designed by the Indian Navy's DND (Directorate of Naval Design) 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 the newly inducted MH-60R, during both day and night operations. They incorporate features such as a rail-less helicopter traversing system and a visual aid and landing system, ensuring seamless operations under all conditions.
These warships also include women’s accommodation to support a sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the navy’s progressive steps toward gender inclusion in frontline combat roles.
Vagsheer, the sixth Kalvari-class submarine, built under the Scorpene Project 75, is one of the most silent and versatile diesel-electric submarines in the world. It is designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.
Armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems, the submarine also features modular construction. This allows for future upgrades such as the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.
The combined commissioning of Nilgiri, Surat, and Vagsheer demonstrates India’s progress in indigenous shipbuilding. These vessels have undergone rigorous trials, including machinery, hull, fire-fighting, and damage control assessments. These have proven the vessels’ navigation and communication systems at sea, making them fully operational and ready for deployment.
This enhances the Navy’s maritime strength and reinforces India’s commitment to building a robust and self-sufficient defence ecosystem.
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