On the National Technology Day on May 11 that is on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and said India is emerging as a global leader in different aspects of technology.
"Best wishes on National Technology Day! This is a day to express pride and gratitude to our scientists and remember the 1998 Pokhran tests. They were a landmark event in our nation's growth trajectory, especially in our quest towards self-reliance," Modi said in a post on X.
"Powered by our people, India is emerging as a global leader in different aspects of technology, be it space, AI, digital innovation, green technology and more," he said.
In this article let’s look at the naval armoury India has stockpiled to add to its defence muscle power.
In his address in January this year, PM Modi expressed pride in the indigenous construction of these combatants — INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer, saying, “It is a matter of pride that all three frontline naval combatants are Made in India. Today’s India is emerging as a major maritime power in the world."
As India positions its strategic posture in a rapidly shifting Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy has emerged as a critical pillar of the country.
The Navy has made major strides over the past decades which is in response to the increasing assertiveness of other powerful nations in the region.
To reiterate what the PM said about Make in India, let’s look at our naval stable.
INS Surat was the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project. It is equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface-to-Air Missiles. It has an indigenous content of 75% and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities.
INS Vikramaditya and the newly added INS Vikrant are the navy’s flagship aircraft carriers, showcasing India’s ability to project its air power from sea. INS Vikramaditya is said to be one of the biggest ships of the Indian Navy, with a maximum beam of 60 m, spanning an area equal to about three major soccer grounds. It stands 20 storeys tall from its keel to its highest point. INS Vikrant can carry an air group comprising 36 aircraft and has a STOBAR configuration along with anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare abilities.
INS Nilgiri is the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project that has been designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. INS Nilgiri is a major advancement over the Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating significant stealth features and reduced radar imprint through state-of-the-art technology.
INS Vaghsheer, the last submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project highlights India’s growing capabilities in the sub design and build. Built in partnership with France’s Naval Group, it reinforces the Navy’s undersea warfare
capabilities.
INS Kolkata is a part of the Kolkata class, also known as Project 15 A, of the guided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy. This section has two more ships all constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited. They are said to be one of the biggest destroyers operated by the Indian Navy. INS Visakhapatnam the first stealth-missile guided missile destroyer of the Visakhapatnam class, and was commissioned in November, 2021.
The Indian Navy has Shivalik-class frigates, known for their stealth and advanced weaponry, and the Kamorta-class corvettes, designed for anti-submarine warfare, play crucial roles in coastal defense. Manufactured by the Mazagon Dock Limited from 2000 to 2010, these frigates have been named after a Himalayan mountain range. While the Talwar class frigates were developed under a joint Indo-Russian venture.
Meanwhile, Corvettes are smaller, agile warships designed for coastal defence and quick strikes. Manufactured indigenously by the public sector shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, India’s most modern corvettes, namely INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan and INS Kavaratti, were inducted into service in the mid and late 2010s.
The subs section include INS Chakra, INS Arihant, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi and INS Karanj. INS Chakra is a nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Indian Navy. The construction of this sub began in Russia in 1993. It was leased to India in 2011, and after many trials, it was commissioned into service as INS Chakra on April 4, 2012. INS Chakra returned to Russia in 2021. INS Arihant (SSBN 80) is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and also the lead ship of her class.
Amphibious Warfare Ships are required for transporting troops and equipment and thus in the Eighties, India decided to build its own landing ships.
The Indian Navy’s recently concluded Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise TROPEX 2025 offered a window into its operational preparedness. The biennial exercise involved over 75 warships, 50 aircraft, and 15 submarines and was conducted across the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
The exercises included aircraft carrier operations, long-range missile firings and anti-submarine warfare drills in coordination with the Indian Air Force and Army.
TROPEX 2025 reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s commitment to being a Combat-ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future-ready Force.
The exercise successfully tested operational strategies, integrated joint-force capabilities, and ensured India’s maritime security and defense preparedness.
(Writer is senior
journalist and former Senior Associate Editor,
O Heraldo, Goa)