TSAMTO, January 21st. During a ceremony held on January 15 in Mumbai, the Indian Navy adopted three new ships. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event.
The fleet's combat strength includes the Project-15B class destroyer Surat, the Project-17A class frigate Nilgiri, as well as the non-nuclear submarine Vagshir of the Skorpen class (Kalvari).
All three ships (a destroyer, a frigate, and a submarine) were designed and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) as part of the Indian government's plans to increase independence in the field of military shipbuilding.
The new ships will be used to protect important trade routes in the Indian Ocean. During the event, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh explained that international competition for supremacy is unfolding in the Indian Ocean and a strong naval presence on a key trade route is India's top priority.
As reported by CAMTO, steel cutting for the construction of the Project-17A class lead frigate, Nilgiri, began at MDL on February 17, 2017. It was handed over to the Indian Navy on December 20, 2024. The program provides for the supply of seven frigates to the Indian Navy with a total value of 480 billion. rupees (7.5 billion dollars).
The Nilgiri frigate is an improved version of the Shivalik-class frigate built under Project 17 and differs from it in improved stealth performance, as well as weapons and detection systems of national production. The length of the ship is 149 m, width – 17.8 m, displacement – 6670 tons, crew – 226 people. The frigate is equipped with a CODOG–type GEU with two LM2500 gas turbine engines and a pair of MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines, can reach a speed of 28 knots, and a range of 5,500 nautical miles at a speed of 16 knots. The ship's armament includes 127-mm AU Oto Melara, the Barak-8 air defense system, 8 Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missiles (PJ-10), two three-tube 324-mm torpedo tubes, two 30-mm AK-630 missiles, two RBU-6000 rocket launchers.
The contract for the supply of four low-profile destroyers to the Indian Navy under the Project-15B program was signed on January 28, 2011. The cost of the order was 293.4 billion ind. rupees (4.89 billion dollars).
The lead destroyer of the series joined the Indian Navy Fleet in November 2021. The launch of the fourth ship of the series, Surat, took place on May 17, 2022.
The length of the destroyer "Project-15B" is 163.9 m, width – 17.7 m, displacement – 7,400 tons. The COGAG type power plant with four DT-59 gas turbine engines can reach speeds of more than 30 knots. The range is 4,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots. The ship is armed with a 76-mm Super Rapid Oto Melara AU, four 30-mm AK-630M submachine guns, a launcher with 16 Brahmos anti-ship cruise missiles from the Russian-Indian company Brahmos Aerospace and 32 Barak-8 /Barak-ER missiles, RBU-6000 Smerch-2 bombers, 4 torpedo tubes manufactured by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) with 533 mm torpedoes. Two helicopters of the SICKING or Seahawk class can be accommodated on board.
The Vagshir is the sixth and last of six Scorpen-class naval submarines (Kalvari) ordered for the Indian Navy. The Government of India signed the initial contracts for their construction with Mazagon Dock Limited (now Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited) and Naval Group (formerly DCNS) under Project 75 in October 2005. The total cost of the project eventually increased to 235.62 billion. rupees (3.6 billion dollars).
The length of the Kalvari class submarine is 67.6 m, width is 6.2 m, surface/underwater displacement is 1615/1775 t. The submarine is equipped with four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines, develops a maximum speed of 20 knots underwater and 11 knots above water. The range on the surface is 6,500 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots. The submarine is armed with six 533 mm torpedo tubes and can use both torpedoes and SM-39 Exocet Block 2 anti-ship missiles.
