Rajnath Singh Launches Warships 'Surat' & 'Udaygiri', Says Will Project India's Strategic Strength

'Surat' is the fourth P15B class Guided Missile Destroyer, while 'Udaygiri' is the second P17A class Stealth Frigate.

New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched two indigenous warships of the Indian Navy – ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’ - at Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and stated that the warships will project India’s strategic strength & self-reliance prowess to the world. 

According to a press release, 'Surat' is the fourth P15B class Guided Missile Destroyer, while 'Udaygiri' is the second P17A class Stealth Frigate.

The Directorate of Naval Design (DND) developed both warships in-house, and they were built at MDL in Mumbai.

The launch of a ship marks the start of the following phase, which includes considerable outfitting efforts by shipyards in preparation for delivery.

At the ceremony, Singh stated that the construction of these two warships proves that India would not only meet its own demands in the shipbuilding field, but will also meet the needs of others.

Highlighting that the two warships will add might to the Indian Navy’s arsenal, Union Defence Minister said, "INS Udaygiri and INS Surat are the shining examples of India’s growing indigenous capability. The warships will be among the most technologically advanced missile carriers in the world, that will cater to the present as well as future requirements. In the times to come, we will not only fulfil our own needs, but will also meet the shipbuilding requirements of the world. We will soon realise Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’." 

"The commissioning of Vikrant will be a golden moment in India's defence history," he further said. 

According to the Navy, 'Surat' is the fourth ship of Project 15B Destroyers, which heralds a considerable upgrade of the P15A (Kolkata Class) destroyers, and is named after Gujarat's commercial capital and the second largest commercial hub in Western India after Mumbai.

"'Udaygiri', named after a mountain range in Andhra Pradesh, is the third ship of Project 17A Frigates. P17A Frigates are warships that are a follow-on class of the P17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates with improved stealth features, advanced weapons, sensors and platform management systems," the Navy said. 

"The new warship is the reincarnation of the erstwhile 'Udaygiri', the Leander Class ASW Frigate, which saw numerous challenging operations in its illustrious service to the country, spanning over three decades from February 1976 to August 2007," it said.