Rajnath Singh on Navy: The Indo-Pacific region is critical to the global economy, and as a responsible maritime stakeholder in the region, India’s Navy’s primary goal is to keep the Indo-Pacific open, safe, and secure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, noting that global security, border disputes, and maritime dominance have prompted nations around the world to modernize their militaries.
“If a government wants to protect its national interests, it should project its military might well beyond its borders.” It is vital to establish a powerful naval force if a country wishes to become a regional or global power. The government is making every effort to achieve this goal. Mr. Singh stated, “We want to build a strong, secure, and prosperous India that is acknowledged as a worldwide force.” He was addressing at the commissioning of two frontline warships being built at Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL). Surat, the fourth and final ship of the Project-15B destroyers, and Udaygiri, the third ship of the Project-17A stealth frigates, are among the ships.
India’s rising indigenous capacities are Udayagiri and Surat
” The shining examples of India’s rising indigenous capacity are Udayagiri and Surat. The warships will be among the world’s most technologically advanced missile carriers, capable of meeting both current and future requirements. We will not only meet our own needs in the future, but we will also meet the world’s shipbuilding requirements. Mr. Singh stated, “We shall soon fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World.'”
“We embrace consensus-based principles and a peaceful, open, rule-based, and stable maritime order,” he said, emphasizing India’s role as a responsible maritime participant in the area.
Mr. Singh stated that the ever-changing security scenario in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region would require the Indian Navy to play an even more important role in the future, and he urged policymakers to focus on bolstering the country’s presence in the region, its role during disasters, economic well-being, and foreign policy advancement.
The ships were blessed and named Surat and Udaygiri, respectively, by President Naval Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) (Western Region) Charu Singh and spouse of CMD, MDL Jaishree Prasad, according to the Navy. “This launch also signals the start of the following phase, which includes major outfitting work by the Shipyards in preparation for delivery.”
The Navy’s continued acquisition of assets with long sea legs, increased capabilities, and greater endurance is a driver for the Navy’s continued acquisition of assets with long sea legs, increased capabilities, and greater endurance, according to Navy Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar, who spoke at the launch.
He stated that 80 percent Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on a cost basis has been awarded to Indian vendors to promote the ‘Make in India’ drive, resulting in an investment of roughly Rs. 1,75,000 crore back into the Indian economy. These and other indigenous shipbuilding projects are also accelerators for job creation and skill development. “As a result, the Navy’s budget has a major ‘plow-back’ into the economy, indicating our commitment to ‘Aatmanirbharta,'” Adm. Kumar remarked.
Project-15-B
The four destroyers under Project-15B are a follow-on to the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers, with a project cost of around 29,643.74 crores. They’re named after significant cities around the country, including Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat. While the INS Visakhapatnam has been commissioned, two other ships, the Mormugao and the Imphal have been launched, with the former currently conducting sea testing.
The Project-17A Frigates (Shivalik Class) are an enhanced version of the P17 Frigates (Shivalik Class) with increased stealth, advanced weapons and sensors, and platform management systems. Seven ships are currently being built, four at MDL and three at Garden Reach Ship Builders Limited (GRSE).