New Delhi, 15 January (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday described the induction of two warships and a submarine into India's naval fleet at the Naval Dock Yard in Mumbai as a proof of India's strength in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday completed the formalities of induction of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and submarine INS Bagsheer into the Navy.

The Defense Minister described the historic commissioning of warships Surat and Nilgiri and submarine Bagsheer together as important not only for the Indian Navy but also from the geo-strategic and economic point of view in the Indian Ocean region. He said that this region has always been important for India but in today's rapidly changing environment it has become even more important. He said that today we can say that the importance that the Atlantic Ocean used to have earlier, that importance has shifted to the Indian Ocean today.

The Defence Minister said that these three large platforms inducted into the Navy today are fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and systems and are fully capable of countering any situation. We are rapidly increasing our modernisation faith today. On the one hand, we are producing these large platforms indigenously, while on the other hand, our focus is also on low-cost and high-impact systems, which can make our forces more powerful in a short time. Thus, in the course of rapid modernisation of our forces, we are bringing such a balanced mix.

The submarine INS Vagsheer inducted into the Navy fleet today is named after the sand fish, a predatory fish that lives in the deep seas of the Indian Ocean. The submarine has been designed to operate in all theatres of operation.The submarine Vagsheer will have a displacement of 1,600 tonnes, with heavy sensors and weapons fitted for all lethal strikes. Surat and Nilgiri were handed over to the Navy by the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks (MDL) last week. The ship 'Surat' received by the Navy is the fourth and last of the Rs 35 thousand crore Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer. Earlier in the last three years, three ships of the same project, Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal, have been included in the Navy fleet.

The frigate Nilgiri inducted into the Navy is the first ship of Project 17A stealth. Seven ships of this scheme are being built at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata. These multi-mission frigates are capable of combating both traditional and unconventional threats in 'blue water' in the area of ​​India's maritime interests. It is operated by diesel or gas. They also have a state-of-the-art integrated platform management system. The ship has been fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system, medium-range surface-to-air missile system, 76 mm upgraded gun and rapid fire close-in weapon systems.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar