INS Surat Nilgiri: On December 20, 2024, India took a big step in becoming self-reliant by giving the Indian Navy two new ships, a destroyer named Surat and a frigate named Nilgiri. These ships were designed and built in India by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
The work on Surat started when its base (keel) was laid on November 7, 2019, and it was launched into water on May 17, 2022. It was handed over to the Navy 31 months later, making it the fastest destroyer ever built in India. Testing began on June 15, 2024, and the ship passed its final machinery tests by November 25, 2024, in just six months.
Nilgiri’s keel was laid on December 28, 2017, and it was launched on September 28, 2019. Its sea trials started in August 2024, and it completed all tests, both in the harbor and at sea, before being delivered to the Navy.
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Understanding Frigates and Destroyers in the Indian Navy
Frigates and destroyers are two key types of warships used by navies worldwide. These ships are built for speed and are mainly used to protect larger vessels from threats in the air, on the sea’s surface, and underwater.
In India, frigates are smaller and faster than destroyers. They are mainly used for escorting ships and fighting submarines. Frigates usually weigh between 3,000 and 5,000 tons and are about 126 meters long. Destroyers, on the other hand, are larger and more powerful, built for long missions and defense against both air and submarine attacks. They weigh between 5,000 and 8,000 tons and are around 163 meters long.
By 2024, the Indian Navy has a strong fleet of these ships. Frigates include INS Shivalik, INS Satpura, INS Sahyadri, INS Teg, INS Tarkash, INS Trikand, INS Nilgiri, and INS Himgiri. Destroyers in the fleet are INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Chennai, INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, INS Imphal, and INS Surat. These vessels are crucial for protecting India’s waters and strengthening its maritime power.
INS Surat is a Visakhapatnam-class destroyer. It is 163 meters long, weighs 7,400 tons, and is equipped with modern weapons and sensors for complex naval operations.
INS Nilgiri is a stealth frigate. It is 126 meters long, weighs about 6,500 tons, and is fitted with advanced technology for multiple roles.
INS Surat is the last of the four Visakhapatnam-class destroyers. Meanwhile, INS Nilgiri is the first in its series of seven stealth frigates.
Both ships are equipped with cutting-edge weapons, communication systems, and radar technology. They will soon officially join the Indian Navy, boosting its operational strength.
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INS Surat: A Smart Destroyer with AI
The INS Surat is a powerful warship weighing 7,400 tons, built to host 300 sailors. It can stay at sea for 45 days, travel up to 15,000 km, and reach a speed of 62 km/h. The ship is armed with 16 BrahMos missiles and 32 Barak missiles for air defense. It is the first Indian Navy ship to use artificial intelligence, which improves its abilities during missions.
INS Surat can also carry two Dhruv helicopters equipped with torpedoes and rockets to fight enemy submarines. It has the Shakti electronic warfare system, Kavach decoys to distract enemy missiles, and the Marich system to protect against torpedoes. The Indian Navy now has 12 guided-missile destroyers from the Delhi, Visakhapatnam, and Rajput classes.
“INS Surat was delivered to the Indian Navy ahead of schedule, marking it as the most battle-ready ship so far,” said MDL, according to Telegraphindia. “This reflects our dedication to constant improvement and surpassing global standards.”
The P15B-class destroyers, like INS Surat, have 72% indigenous components, higher than the earlier P15A-class (59%) and P15-class (42%) destroyers.
INS Nilgiri: A Stealth Frigate with Modern Weapons
INS Nilgiri is the first of seven frigates in its class, launched in September 2019. This stealth frigate weighs over 6,500 tons and can carry 226 sailors and one helicopter.
The ship is equipped with eight BrahMos missiles and Barak missiles for air defense, along with torpedoes and rockets for targeting submarines. Its stealth design helps it avoid detection by enemy radar.
In August, MDL proposed working with Brazil to produce six more frigates of this class. The Indian Navy currently operates 12 guided-missile frigates from the Shivalik, Talwar, and Brahmaputra classes.
