Indian Navy Expansion: PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ Legacy with New Warships

On January 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three navy warships to the Indian Navy in a ceremony held at the Navy Dockyard in Mumbai. The foremost feature of these three warships is that they are made under the Make in India initiative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India is emerging as a major maritime power worldwide and the expanding ship-building industry will help the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had given new strength and a new vision to the Indian Navy. Today, in his holy land, we are taking a very big step towards strengthening the Navy of the 21st century. This is the first time that a destroyer, a frigate, and a submarine, all three are being commissioned together.” Three frontline naval ships—INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer—were dedicated to the country by PM Modi. INS Surat is a guided missile destroyer, INS Nilgiri is a stealth frigate, and INS Vaghsheer is a “hunter-killer” submarine.

Atmanirbhar Bharat with India’s Way to Self-reliance

                    The “Make in India” campaign promotes indigenous manufacture, builds infrastructure, and supports associated industries in the construction of battleships in India. It gives direct employment opportunities to welders, engineers, project managers, electricians, naval architects, and quality assurance specialists. The naval warships are developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and other Indian defense manufacturers, they showcase India’s growing self-reliance in defense technology. Massive amounts of steel, electronics, sensors, and other components are needed for indigenous shipbuilding, which increases demand in the precision engineering, electronics, and steel industries. Radars, communication systems, and propulsion machinery are among the many ship components that are sourced from Indian Small and Medium Enterprises. Scientific professionals, technicians, and defense specialists now have jobs thanks to the development of weapon systems, radars, and sonar systems under Indian initiatives like DRDO. Ship exports to countries like the Philippines and Mauritius are a result of indigenous skills. This increases employment prospects in international business, marketing, and diplomacy. 

               The prime minister praised the military for leading the “Make in India” initiative. He emphasized that India is exporting defense equipment to over 100 countries and that its defense manufacturing has crossed Rs 1.25 lakh crore. With sustained assistance, he expressed belief in the swift transformation of India’s military industry. Approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth of 60 huge ships are presently being built in the nation. If 2,000 workers are involved in building a ship, it creates around 12,000 jobs in other industries, particularly in the MSME sector. The majority of parts for naval ships come from domestic MSMEs. In the last ten years, 39 of the 40 naval ships have been built in the country. 

                    In addition to increasing India’s defense independence, the “Make in India” campaign for battleship building is creating thousands of employments in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, research and development, logistics, and maintenance. It is a key component of India’s industrial and economic development, creating jobs in both traditional and high-tech industries.

Features and Abilities of the Warships of Indian Navy

INS SURAT – A Stealth Guided-missile Destroyer

                    India’s sophisticated warship design and building skills are exemplified by INS Surat, the fourth destroyer under Project 15B. It is outfitted with multi-dimensional warfare MF-STAR radar, Barak-8 air defense systems, and supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles. Through the use of stealth technologies, radar and infrared signatures are reduced. Air defense, anti-submarine operations, and high-intensity surface combat are all intended uses for the warship.

 INS NILGIRI – A Multi-role Frigate

                INS Nilgiri, the first vessel of Project 17A, is a cutting-edge frigate that can combat threats in the air, on land, and underwater. The ship is equipped with modern electronic warfare systems, torpedoes, Barak-8 air defense systems, and BrahMos missiles. It features long-range surveillance capabilities, integrated battle management systems, and a modular stealth architecture. The warship’s primary missions include maritime patrols, fleet support, and anti-submarine warfare.             

INS VAGSHEER – A Scorpene-class Submarine

                     INS Vagsheer, the sixth and last Kalvari-class submarine built as part of Project 75, improves India’s underwater fighting capabilities. The battleship is equipped with Exocet SM39 missiles, torpedoes, and Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. Its features include acoustic countermeasures for silent operations, high endurance, and superb stealth. The battleship is also outfitted with specialization in information collection, anti-submarine warfare, and secret monitoring.

Analyzing Warships in Comparisons with the Currently Developed Warships of Pakistan

                           The Pakistan Navy’s marine capabilities have been enhanced by the recent addition of some new naval vessels. In 2024, Pakistan deployed the Yarmook-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) PNS Hunain (F-273) and the MILGEM-class corvette PNS Babur (P-280) to its maritime zone. Two PNS Babur are being constructed at the Istanbul Shipyard Command in Turkey and two at the Karachi Shipyard in Pakistan. Damen Shipyard Galati in Romania is where PNS Hunain is manufactured.

The Indian Battleships have a clear edge over the Pakistani battleships introduced in late 2024.

• Unlike Pakistani battleships, Indian battleships can lower radar cross-section.
• Compared to PNS Hunain’s YJ-83 missile system, the Indian battleship BrahMos missile system is faster and more accurate.
• INS Surat provides long-range interception against threats from high-speed aircraft, while PNS Hunain contains HQ-16 SAMs, which have comparatively limited ranges.
• Underwater stealth and endurance capabilities are limited by PNS Hunain’s lack of AIP-equipped submarines, while INS Vagsheer has modern air-independent propulsion (AIP) for prolonged underwater endurance.
• While PNS Babur and Hunain are both capable of patrol and regional defense, respectively, INS Surat is a multi-role destroyer with the potential to conduct blue-water missions.
• Indian ships can carry more weaponry, sensors, and fuel for longer missions because they typically have larger displacement.
• While Pakistani ships primarily concentrate on coastal security and regional defense, with limited blue-water reach, Indian ships are built for extended operations in the Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific, and beyond.
• Pakistani ships have a limited range, which limits prolonged missions in distant waters, while Indian ships have a longer operational range because of their larger size and superior fuel economy.
• In contrast to Pakistani ships, which mostly participate in bilateral drills with China and Turkey, Indian ships are more compatible with ally naval forces, including the Quad.

                          Built under the “Make in India” campaign, INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer are equipped with advanced indigenous artillery and technology. These guarantees cost-effectiveness and flexibility in addition to increasing self-reliance. Meanwhile, PNS Hunain is a Chinese-built frigate that demonstrates reliance on foreign technology, while PNS Babur is based on Turkey’s MILGEM design.

In Contrast with Some of the Best Warships in the World

Significance of the Warships in the Marine Defence Systems of India

  India’s marine security may be strengthened with the help of these warships, safeguarding important trade routes and countering new threats like piracy and regional rivalries. It will improve India’s capacity to retain its eye on and prevent China’s expanding naval power in the Indian Ocean region by countering the Chinese Navy and its facilities, such as the “String of Pearls.”

           The Navy can maintain a strong surveillance network throughout the Indian Ocean because of these ships’ advanced detectors and radars. These battleships can help India achieve its goal of having a blue-water navy as it transitions from a brown-water (coastal defense) to a blue-water (oceanic supremacy) navy.

          They can guard India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to safeguard essential resources like oil and gas. Their forefront measures will discourage trafficking and smuggling in Indian seas. The introduction of these battleships may support India’s strategic goals of independence, regional leadership, and international maritime stability in addition to strengthening the country’s defense against traditional and uneven threats.