Latest news with #Nilgiri-class
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Navy to commission up to 10 warships by December, led by first ASW Shallow-Water Craft ‘Arnala'
The Indian Navy will induct nine to 10 warships between June and December 2025, significantly expanding its fleet. The first of these—the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow-Water Craft (ASW-SWC) Arnala—is scheduled for commissioning on 18 June at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. This would significantly bolster India's naval fleet and most of the ships to be commissioned have been made indigenously, officials said. According to the Navy, the commissioning programme includes the ASW-SWC class of ships, beginning with ASW-SWC Arnala on 18 June at Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam. Officials told The Indian Express that one or two more ASW-SWC vessels are also expected to be commissioned this year. The Navy said that Arnala's commissioning will mark the formal induction of the first of sixteen ASW-SWC ships into the Indian Navy. These vessels have been designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under a Public–Private Partnership with L&T Shipbuilders. Named after the historic Arnala Fort in Vasai, Maharashtra, Arnala is equipped for a range of anti-submarine warfare operations, including subsurface surveillance, search-and-rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime tasks. At 77.6 m in length and over 1,490 gross tonnes, Arnala is the largest Indian naval warship to be propelled by a diesel-engine–waterjet combination, the Navy said. INS Tamal, the second Talwar-class stealth frigate under a 2016 Indo-Russian agreement, is set to be commissioned by the end of this month. Tamal is one of four frigates acquired in a $2.5 billion deal with Russia: two were constructed in Russia, and two at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with Russian technology transfer. Its sister ship, INS Tushil, was commissioned in December 2024 at Russia's Yantar Shipyard and reached India in February 2025. Other vessels awaiting induction include a diving support ship under construction at Hindustan Shipyard Limited; at least one Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) frigate, being built jointly by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and GRSE; and a large survey vessel from GRSE. A second Nilgiri-class frigate may also be commissioned before year-end, an official said. INS Vagsheer, the sixth Kalvari-class submarine under Project 75, was commissioned in January 2025. This diesel-electric submarine operates underwater on battery power and on the surface using diesel engines, offering silent patrol capability close to the coast. Staff evaluation and cost negotiations for Project 75I—which will build six advanced conventional attack submarines—are currently under way. The Navy is also due to receive two more MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from the United States within a month. Of the 24 ordered, 13 have been delivered so far.
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Indian Navy conducts successful anti-ship firings, demonstrates prowess in carrying out long-range precision strikes
Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian warships have conducted multiple successful anti-ship firings, demonstrating the Indian Navy's prowess in carrying out long-range precision strikes and demonstrating the readiness of platforms, systems and crew for possible offensive actions. In a post on X on Sunday, the Navy asserted that it is combat-ready to safeguard the nation's maritime interests, while sharing multiple visuals of the demonstrations. As per officials, the Navy was already out on a missile-firing deployment. 'The latest anti-ships firings displayed its role switch capability from peacetime to combat, while still being out at sea without entering base ports,' an official said. The warships included Kolkata -class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class and Krivak-class frigates. The Navy's tankers, and its latest aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and maritime patrol aircraft P-8Is also remain deployed in the Arabian Sea. On Thursday, the Navy's indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully test-fired the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile in the Arabian Sea. 'The Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities,' the Navy had said in a statement. Pakistan had issued a notification for the firings in the Arabian Sea. The developments come amid increased tensions between India and Islamabad following a terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians—most of them tourists—were killed by terrorists. As India has vowed retaliation, the last few days have seen multiple operations carried out by security forces across Kashmir. Earlier this week, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Kashmir to review the security situation. There have been repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC), the Army said, adding that the Indian side has retaliated effectively. There were no casualties reported.
