Mumbai: The Indian Navy is preparing to enhance its capabilities with the upcoming commissioning of four advanced warships and submarines, including a vessel constructed at a Russian shipyard. During the annual press conference for Navy Week 2024, held aboard the stealth destroyer INS Mormugao, Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, revealed that “four vessels are set for induction within the next month.” The vessels expected to join the fleet are INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, INS Tushil, and INS Vagsheer.
Among these, INS Tushil, which has been constructed in Russia, marks the conclusion of the Indian Navy’s acquisition of two foreign-built vessels. Emphasizing a shift towards indigenous construction, Vice Admiral Singh pointed out the Navy’s current progress: “Currently, 65 vessels are under construction, 63 of which are being built in Indian shipyards.” This focus on local production reflects the Indian Navy’s commitment to bolstering domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
In addressing ongoing piracy challenges, Vice Admiral Singh stated that the Indian Navy has been consistently involved in anti-piracy operations since October 2008, maintaining a continuous naval presence in the Gulf of Aden for the past 16 years. He highlighted the Navy’s success in this domain, noting, “Initially, there were questions about our endurance, but we proved our capability.” The decline in piracy incidents was attributed to a combination of adverse weather conditions during monsoon seasons and the Navy’s proactive measures against pirate activities. Key pirate leaders have either been captured or deterred, which has helped to disrupt the momentum of piracy in these waters. Despite these successes, Vice Admiral Singh reaffirmed the Navy’s readiness to counter any potential resurgence in pirate incidents.
The Vice Admiral also addressed a recent incident involving the Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj and a fishing boat, FV Marthoma, which collided off the coast of Goa. Although INS Karanj suffered damage, he assured that the submarine remains operational. “Whenever there’s a collision, some damage is inevitable. The Navy assessed the damage, and repairs are underway,” he explained. An internal inquiry is currently in progress, and necessary corrective measures will be taken. The collision, which occurred on November 21, 2023, led to the sinking of the fishing boat and resulted in the loss of two crew members, while the damages to the submarine were reported to exceed Rs 10 crore.
With these developments, the Indian Navy underscores its commitment to modernizing its fleet while ensuring the safety and security of sea routes, reflecting a strategic prioritization amid evolving maritime challenges.
