Naval Assets of the Indian Navy: Vessels, Submarines and Ongoing Projects

The Indian Navy operates a diverse fleet of vessels, ranging from advanced aircraft carriers to stealth corvettes and submarines. These vessels play crucial roles in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and maintaining security in the region.

Key Naval Assets of the Indian Navy

INS Astradharini: An indigenously (95%) built Torpedo Launch and Recovery Vessel ‘INS Astradharini’ was designed by the NSTL, M/s Shoft Shipyard and IIT Kharagpur. 

• Operational Capabilities: It has a length of 50 m and can operate in high seas, with a maximum speed of 15 Knots. 
  • INS Astradharini (replacement of INS Astravahini) is used to carry out the technical trials of underwater weapons and systems developed by NSTL (naval systems laboratory of DRDO). [UPSC 2016] 

• INS Kavaratti: It is an indigenous (90%) Kamorta class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvette built under Project 28. 
  • Operational Capabilities: It has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND- Indian Navy’s in-house organisation) and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. 
    • Kavaratti is capable of detecting and prosecuting submarines, also, carbon composites have been used in its construction. 
  • Project 28: Three other ships commissioned under Project 28 include INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, and INS Kiltan.
• Project 17 A: Under the Project 17A program, a total of four ships [Guided Missile Frigates- Nilgiri (1st ship), Udaygiri, Taragiri, Mahendragiri] by M/s MDSL (Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd) and three ships [Himgiri, Dunagiri and Vindhyagiri] by M/s GRSE are under construction. 
  • These warships are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class Frigates (Shivalik Class), with improved features and advanced weapon systems. 
  • Project 17 A ships have been designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, and  a substantial 75% of the orders for equipment and systems are from indigenous firms including MSMEs. 
• Project 15 B: Has been launched for building the advanced variants of the Kolkata class Guided Missile Destroyers (built under Project 15 A: including INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai). 
  • Ships under Project 15 B have been designed by the Warship Design Bureau and are being built by M/s MDSL, and include four ships- INS Visakhapatnam(lead ship), INS Mormugao, INS Imphal and INS Surat.

Submarines

Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine (SSBN): INS Arihant is a 6,000-tonne (SSBN) with a length of 110 metres and a breadth of 11 metres and is able to carry 12 Sagarika K 15 SLBMs. 

• Arihant can dive to 300 metres and is powered by an 83 MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) developed by BARC.
•  SSBNs powered by a nuclear reactor can function submerged for months, with greater stealth. SSBNs can carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. 
• INS Aridhaman and INS Arighat, two other SSBNs of India built under the  Advanced Technology Vessel Project.

• Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines (SSN): These are armed with non-nuclear weapons. Indian Navy’s only SSN, the INS Chakra, is an Akula class vessel taken on lease from Russia.
• Sub Surface Killer/Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine (SSK): Indian Navy currently has numerous SSKs, including Sindhughosh class (Russian Kilo class), Shishumar class and Kalvari class (Scorpene class) submarines. 
• Project 75: Entails indigenous construction of SSK submarines of Scorpene design by M/s MDSL. The project includes the commissioning of six vessels, including INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi,  INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir, and INS Vagsheer.
• Project 75 (I): It is a follow-up and improvement over Project 75. 
  • The initiative envisages new SSK submarines with fuel cells and Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) for the Indian Navy. 

Conclusion

With ongoing projects like Project 17A and Project 75(I), India continues to strengthen its naval capabilities through indigenous design and construction of advanced warships and submarines. 

• These initiatives underscore India’s commitment to self-reliance in defense technology and its readiness to meet future challenges at sea.

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