Navy to commission 3 powerful warships in one day

In what would be important landmark in indigenous ship building capabilities, the Indian Navy would commission two frontline warships and a Kalvari class submarine, in a day.

The Navy would commission stealth frigate Nilgiri, stealth destroyer Surat and the submarine Vaghsheer at the Naval dockyard at Mumbai on January 15.

It would also be transition of technology for the Navy. The Nilgiri is the first warship to be made using the ‘integrated construction’ technique. It is first of seven ships – all scheduled to be commissioned over the next 24-26 months or so – that is early 2027.

Integrated construction entails various parts of a ship, particularly its hull, superstructure and internal systems getting designed to be manufactured in separate blocks of 250 tonnes each. Each block is build with precision to allow cabling and piping to pass through when two set of blocks are aligned and welded together seamlessly.

This technique accelerates the speed of making warships coupled with modern technology and design-software, integrated construction is expected to enable India to match construction pace of shipyards in Europe.

Nilgiri, is upgrade over the Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating significant stealth features and reduced radar signatures through state-of-the-art technology.

The stealth destroyer, Surat, is part of the Vishakhapatnam class. Three sister ships of the class the INS Vishakhapatnam, the INS Mormugao and INS Imphal have been already been commissioned.  The Vishakhapatnam class is an upgrade from the Kolkata-class destroyers, featuring substantial improvements in design and capabilities.

Both ships – Nilgiri and Surat -- 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, the 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. These ships also include specific accommodations to support a sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the gender inclusion goals in frontline combat roles for women.

The third commissioning on that day would be of the sixth and last of the Kalvari-class submarine. The vessels are made under joint collaboration of the Naval Group of France and the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai”.

The Kalvari class is conventional diesel-electric powered submarine known for its ‘silent’ undersea operations. It is designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations.  It is armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems.

The submarine also features modular construction, allowing for future upgrades such as the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology, which allows a submarine to stay underwater for longer periods. Just three days earlier, on December 30, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for construction of AIP technology made by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The integration of the AIP with the submarines will be done by MDL. The total contract is for Rs 1,990 crore.

The AIP is a marine propulsion technology that allows non-nuclear submarines to operate under water for longer periods without needing to surface to recharge the onboard batteries. AIP systems generate electricity, which powers an electric motor for propulsion and also recharges the submarine's batteries. 

A conventional diesel-electric submarine needs to surface mid-sea to recharge its batteries every 3-4 days. A submarine with AIP can remain under water for 8-10 days, making it harder to detect, improving effectiveness.

The Indian Navy said “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”.