Come Wednesday, Indian Navy's combat capabilities will see a major leap as three frontline naval combatants—INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer—will be commissioned into the force by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
The cutting-edge warships, INS Nilgiri and INS Surat are set to boost the the operational capabilities of the Navy, with former focusing on multi-role frigate capabilities while the latter serving as a versatile destroyer.
Here is a look at the capabilities of the two frontline warships.
INS Surat
The fourth and final ship of the Project 15B stealth destroyer class, Surat, the first AI-enabled warship in the Indian Navy—constructed entirely at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai—features state-of-the-art sensors, radars, sonars, and electronic warfare systems.
The Project 15B destroyer, Surat, is the culmination of the follow-on class to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers, featuring substantial improvements in design and capabilities. The warship is equipped with advanced sensors and weapon packages developed primarily in India or through strategic collaborations with leading global manufacturers.
It can operate a wide range of helicopters, including Chetak, ALH, Sea King, and the newly inducted MH-60R, during both day and night operations.
INS Surat is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system and can achieve speeds upto 30 knots and has an operational range of over 7,500 kilometers.
The first capital warship to be named after a city of Gujarat, INS Surat—which has an indigenous content of 75 per cent—is set to offer a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s combat potential.
INS Nilgiri
INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, has been designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates.
The warship is equipped with advanced weaponry and systems, including eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, and 76mm gun and AK-630 close-in weapon system.
According to MDL, the warship is comparable to the finest ships of similar class anywhere in the world, and have all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warship, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircraft.
"Nilgiri is enabled to operate independently without supporting vessels, and also to function as the flagship of Naval task force," MDL said in a release.
