Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders delivers Stealth Destroyer INS Surat and Frigate INS Nilgiri to the Indian Navy ahead of schedule
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has achieved another milestone by delivering two significant warships, INS Surat and INS Nilgiri, to the Indian Navy ahead of schedule. These deliveries include the first stealth frigate of the Project-17A class, INS Nilgiri, and the fourth stealth destroyer of the Project-15B class, INS Surat, showcasing India’s growing prowess in indigenous warship design and construction.
Both ships, designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by MDL, were handed over following rigorous oversight by the Warship Overseeing Team in Mumbai. The Acceptance Document for the delivery was signed by MDL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjeev Singhal and Rear Admiral R. Adhisrinivasan, CSO (Tech), in the presence of MDL directors, ship commanders, and Navy personnel.
INS Nilgiri is the first frigate of the advanced Project-17A class. This state-of-the-art vessel incorporates cutting-edge technology, ensuring superior stealth, survivability, and maneuverability. Its design features radar-transparent deck fittings and a uniquely shaped hull, making it difficult to detect by enemy forces. Equipped with an advanced array of weapons and sensors, INS Nilgiri is prepared to counter threats from submarines, warships, anti-ship missiles, and aircraft. It also boasts close-in defense capabilities and is capable of naval gunfire.
The frigate is designed to operate independently without the need for support vessels, or it can serve as the flagship for a naval task force. With a high degree of indigenous content, INS Nilgiri represents India’s significant strides in self-reliance under the "Make in India" initiative, setting a benchmark for warship construction.
INS Surat, the final destroyer in the Project-15B Visakhapatnam-class series, is a versatile and powerful warship capable of handling diverse missions across the maritime warfare spectrum. Armed with advanced weaponry, including BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missiles and Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles, it is designed for dominance in surface, aerial, and underwater combat scenarios.
#MDL created history today with the delivery of two Capital Warships to the #IndianNavy. The acceptance documents (D448) for the first stealth Frigate of the P17A class, Nilgiri, and the fourth guided missile Destroyer of the P15B class, Surat, were signed by Shri Sanjeev… pic.twitter.com/sMD8AkNmxQ
— Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (@MazagonDockLtd) December 20, 2024
For anti-submarine warfare, INS Surat is outfitted with indigenous technologies such as the Hull-Mounted Sonar Humsa NG, heavy-weight torpedo tube launchers, and ASW rocket launchers. This destroyer is a multi-role vessel capable of operating independently or serving as the flagship of a naval fleet.
Delivered ahead of its contractual deadline, INS Surat stands as a testament to MDL's commitment to excellence and its ability to meet and exceed global standards. The destroyer boasts an impressive 72% indigenous content, a marked improvement over earlier classes like Project-15A (59%) and Project-15 (42%). This underscores the government's focus on the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative, further strengthening India’s defense ecosystem.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders has been a key player in India’s indigenous warship and submarine-building journey. Its legacy includes the construction of numerous vessels, such as Leander and Godavari-class frigates, Khukri-class corvettes, missile boats, Delhi and Kolkata-class destroyers, Shivalik-class stealth frigates, and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, as well as SSK and Scorpene submarines. This illustrious history has earned MDL the well-deserved title of "Warship and Submarine Builders to the Nation."
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