Context: Indian Navy is set to commission up to 10 domestically built warships by December 2025. This move marks one of the largest single-phase inductions in recent years, and highlights India’s growing emphasis on indigenous defence manufacturing and strategic autonomy in naval strength.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about recent naval inductions, ship classes, and defence manufacturing initiatives, Indigenisation efforts.
Key details of the Induction:
- The commissioning phase will begin with the induction of INS Arnala, the first of sixteen Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow-Water Craft (ASW-SWC).
- Alongside Arnala, the Navy is expected to induct INS Tamal, the second Talwar-class stealth frigate.
- A second Nilgiri-class frigate may also be commissioned before the year-end.
INS Arnala
- Built by: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders.
- It is designed to perform critical roles such as subsurface surveillance, search-and-rescue missions, and anti-submarine operations in coastal and shallow waters.
- Arnala is the largest Indian naval warship propelled by a diesel-engine and waterjet combination.
INS Tamal: Krivak-class Frigates
- Krivak-class frigates are a series of multi-role warships originally designed by Russia. India operates its variant called the Talwar-class frigates, customised for the Indian Navy.
- In 2016, under Project 1135.6 (Talwar-class) Follow-on Frigates, India and Russia signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement to procure four additional Krivak-class frigates.
- Two were to be imported from Russia, while two were to be built in India at GSL, Goa under technology transfer.
- Built in Russia: INS Tushil (commissioned 2024), INS Tamal (to be commissioned in 2025)
- Built in India: INS Triput (launched 2024), INS Tavasya (launched 2025).
With the aim to become a 175-ship by 2035 the Indian Navy has taken many strategic steps like:
- Advancements in technology, stronger indigenisation efforts, and close Navy involvement in the design and manufacturing process have shortened the time from ship design to delivery.
- Recently, the Navy also commissioned INS Vagsheer, a diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine under Project 75, which operates quietly for coastal patrols.
- Furthermore, the Navy is progressing with Project 75I, which aims to build six advanced conventional attack submarines, with evaluations and cost negotiations underway.
- On the aviation side, the Navy is also receiving MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from the U.S., with 13 of 24 orders already delivered.