Indigenous Warships ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri ‘

Raksha Mantri launches two indigenous frontline warships - Surat (Guided Missile Destroyer) & Udaygiri (Stealth Frigate) in Mumbai.

• It is to support a strong naval force which is must for safeguarding national interests & making India a global power.

Objectives

• The warships is an embodiment of the government’s commitment to enhance the country’s maritime capability with focus on achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’.
• When the world is witnessing disruption in global supply chain due to COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it is important for India to strengthen its technologies.

India’s vision

• The Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region is demanding more important role of the Indian Navy in the times to come.
• For devising such policies which focus on bolstering the country’s presence in the region, its role during disasters, economic wellbeing and carrying forward the foreign policies.
• Indian Navy is playing a crucial role in carrying forward the Government’s policies such as Act-East, besides strengthening relations with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries.
• If a country wants to safeguard its national interests, it should project its military prowess in areas far beyond the mainland.
• If a country has aspirations to become a regional or global power, it is necessary to develop a strong naval force.
• Asserting that global security, border disputes and maritime dominance have led nations around the world to modernise their military, it requires that the public and the private sectors to make full use of the capabilities by taking advantage of the Government’s policies and contribute towards making India an indigenous shipbuilding hub.

Under Make in India

• Indian Navy has always been at the forefront in ensuring self-reliance through manufacturing of indigenous ships, submarines etc.
• “Joining hands with initiatives like ‘Make in India’, Navy has given 76% Acceptance of Necessity (AON), and 66% cost-basis contracts to Indian vendors in 2014 and indigenisation of about 90% Naval ammunition has taken place.
• In addition, more than two-thirds of the Navy’s Modernisation Budget has been spent on indigenous procurement in the last five financial years.
• Of the 41 ships and submarines ordered by the Navy, 39 are from Indian shipyards.
• This is a testament to the Navy's commitment to achieving 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Other warships

• Indigenous Aircraft Carrier ‘INS Vikrant’.
• The Project 15B class of ships are the next-generation stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy.
• P17A Frigates are warships that are follow-on class of the P17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates will improve stealth features, advanced weapons &sensors and platform management systems.