Adding teeth to India’s already formidable maritime arsenal, two indigenous frontline warships built by the Indian Navy will be launched today at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai in the presence of Union defence minister Rajnath Singh.
The frontline warships — ‘Surat’ (project 15B Destroyer) and ‘Udaygiri’ (Project 17A Frigate) — are “next generation stealth guided missiles destroyers”, said the defence ministry in an official statement.
“Both 15B and P17A ships have been designed in-house by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND), which has been the fountainhead for all warship design activities of the nation,” the statement said.
Approximately 75% of the orders for equipment and systems for the warships were given to indigenous firms including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a “true testament of Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the ministry added.
‘Surat’ is part of Project 15B and among the largest destroyer ships manufactured by India. Named after the second-largest commercial hub of western India, the ship has been built using block construction, which involves the hull construction in two different geographical locations, which was then assembled at Mazagon Docks Limited.
