India Commissions Destroyer, Frigate and Submarine

India commissioned three naval platforms—INS Surat destroyer, INS Nilgiri frigate, and INS Vaghsheer submarine—at a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on January 15.

INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, is a 7,400-ton, 164-meter-long stealth destroyer built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). It has a top speed exceeding 30 knots and features 75% indigenous content, including AI-driven solutions, weapons, sensors, and network-centric capabilities. The ship's armament includes surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, enhancing India's surface warfare capabilities. Launched on 17 May 2022, INS Surat is the fastest indigenous destroyer, completing sea and machinery trials in just six months. It is powered by Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion with four gas turbines. Built with contributions from Indian firms, it is the first AI-enabled warship in the Indian Navy.

INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, features stealth capabilities to reduce radar visibility and improve survivability. It is an improvement over the Shivalik-class frigates. It is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire weapon systems. The frigate uses a combined diesel engine and gas turbine for propulsion, enabling blue water operations and addressing conventional and non-conventional maritime threats. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders, it has 75% indigenization, with contributions from over 200 indigenous firms. Sea trials began in August 2024.

Both Nilgiri and Surat can operate a range of helicopters, including Chetak, the advanced light helicopter and the newly inducted MH-60R.

INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final submarine in India’s P75 Scorpene Project. Built in collaboration with the French Naval Group, it is designed for a range of missions, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and special operations. The submarine features advanced acoustic absorption and low radiated noise, making it one of the quieter diesel-electric submarines. It completed its sea trials in 2022, which included tests of its weapons and sonar systems.

The Scorpene-class submarine has a 2000-ton conventional propulsion design and operates with a crew limited by its high level of automation. It has six weapon launching tubes, capable of carrying 18 weapons, including torpedoes and missiles.