For the first time in Indian Navy history, a frigate, a destroyer, and a submarine were commissioned on the same day, marking a significant leap toward achieving self-reliance under the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” initiative.

The platforms commissioned were

• Frigate: INS Nilgiri
• Destroyer: INS Surat
• Submarine: INS Vaghsheer

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About INS Nilgiri

• It is a Frigate.
• Class: Nilgiri-class stealth frigate
• Built Under: Project 17A, a follow-on project of the Shivalik-class frigates currently in service.
• Key Features
  • First of seven frigates in Project 17A.
  • Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• Equipped with:
  • Supersonic surface-to-surface missiles.
  • Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM).
• Role: Critical for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare missions.

INS Surat

• Type: Guided missile destroyer
• Class: Fourth and final stealth guided missile destroyer under Project 15B, following INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, and INS Imphal.
• Key Features
• First Indian Navy warship to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced operational efficiency.
• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• Armed with state-of-the-art weapons, including:
  • Surface-to-air missiles.
  • Anti-ship missiles.
  • Torpedoes.

INS Vaghsheer

• It is a Submarine
• Class: Sixth and final submarine of the Kalvari-class built under Project 75.
• Designed and Developed By: French defence major Naval Group and Spanish state-owned entity Navantia.
• Key Features
  • Diesel-electric propulsion system.
  • Equipped with advanced Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems (to be installed from 2026) for extended underwater endurance.
• Designed for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.
• Naming: Named after Vaghsheer, a type of sandfish found in the Indian Ocean.

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Comparison of Frigate, Destroyer, and Submarine

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Significance of the Commissioning

• Showcasing Indigenous Capability: The tri-commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer underscores India’s advancements in indigenous defense manufacturing highlighting the success of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in the defense sector.
  • The level of indigenisation on all the three platforms is more than 70%.
• Boosting Strategic Deterrence: Adds to India’s deterrence against regional threats and potential adversaries.
  • Reinforces the Navy’s ability to protect trade routes and national interests in contested waters.
• Enhancing Blue-Water Capabilities: The platforms expand the Navy’s capacity to operate in open ocean environments far from the coast.
  • Supports extended deployments and power projection in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
  • A Blue Water Navy is one that has the capacity to project itself over a much bigger maritime area than its maritime borders. Simply put, it is a Navy that can go into the vast, deep oceans of the world
• Strengthening Network-Centric Warfare: Incorporation of advanced sensors, AI, and network-centric systems in these vessels enhances operational efficiency and combat readiness.
• Supporting Multi-Dimensional Warfare: Provides the Navy with capabilities for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, along with intelligence gathering and special operations.
  • Strengthens the Navy’s ability to respond to both conventional and unconventional threats.
• Geopolitical Significance: Reflects India’s emergence as a key maritime power and a responsible regional player in ensuring peace and stability in the IOR.
  • Increases global trust in India’s capability as a “first responder” in the region during crises.

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