Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches INS Surat and INS Udaygiri -

Mumbai: Indian warships INS Surat and INS Udaygiri have been inducted into the naval force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that these warships would augment the strength of the Indian Navy. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that these indigenously built warships at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai truly exhibit India’s self-reliant capability to the world. If the progress continues at the same pace, the Indian Navy will not be limited only to the Indian Ocean but will foray into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Under the project 15B, INS Surat is the fourth destroyer out of the 15-destroyer naval ship. The INS Surat, built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai, is a milestone in developing the Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer. INS Udaygiri is a Shivalik-class destroyer to be built under the 17A project. INS Udaygiri is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensor capability to evade radar systems.

INS Surat and INS Udaygiri will further strengthen the Indian Navy. Both these warships were built indigenously in the country. It is a matter of great satisfaction that 39 of the 41 warships and submarines as a part of the Indian Navy are being built in the country, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The defence minister claimed that the new warships represent India’s strategic strength and the power of self-reliance to the world. The defence minister said that it is a matter of great pride that INS Surat and INS Udaygiri are being launched in the historic land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj and Kanhoji Angre, Chief of Naval Staff of the Maratha Empire. The Navy is tasked with demonstrating India’s strength far from its homeland. The Navy is playing a key role in implementing India’s foreign policy.

India is a significant player in the Indo-Pacific region, which is especially important for the global economy. Keeping the area free and safe is part of the duty of the Indian Navy, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Meanwhile, as China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region increases exponentially, countries in the Asian region are becoming increasingly insecure. In such a scenario, the importance of the Indian Navy has grown tremendously and every country with interests in the region is giving priority to enhancing cooperation with India, which has the potential to take on China. While the United States, Japan and Australia, members of the Quad, underline the importance of cooperation with India, the European countries, France and Great Britain are also keen to enhance coordination and liaison with the Indian Navy.

According to France, India is the most important country for the security of the Indo-Pacific region. In the same vein, Great Britain also says that its cooperation with India will be a top priority. Against this backdrop, the growing capacity of the Indian Navy has become strategically important. Analysts continue to warn that an increase in the strength of the Indian Navy is inevitable as trade and exports grow. That is why new warships, destroyers and submarines are being inducted into the Indian Navy. It has become imperative for India to continue enhancing its naval capabilities to protect the country and its maritime interests.