On Wednesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated the government’s focus on enhancing national security and achieving ‘Atmnirbharta’ (self-reliance) in the defence sector.
He outlined plans for modernizing the armed forces and implementing key reforms by the end of 2025.
During the commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer, Rajnath Singh highlighted the Indian Ocean Region’s increasing strategic significance.
“Improving India’s security system and achieving self-reliance in the defence sector has been the priority of the Prime Minister. The continuous strengthening of our defence sector is a testament to this. The commissioning of INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer together is not only a milestone for the Indian Navy but also a demonstration of India’s significant power in the Indian Ocean Region under your leadership,” Singh stated.
Defence Minister On The Indian Ocean’s Strategic Importance
The Defence Minister highlighted the long-standing strategic and economic importance of the Indian Ocean Region for India.
He further asserted, “But in today’s rapidly changing environment, it has become even more significant. We can now say that the importance that the Atlantic Ocean once held has shifted to the Indian Ocean. A large portion of global trade and commerce passes through this region. Additionally, due to geostrategic reasons, this region is increasingly becoming a natural part of international power rivalry. Along with this, illegal activities such as drug smuggling, narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and terrorism persist in the region.”
He further stressed India’s enduring geostrategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
“Whether it’s trade with Rome over 2,000 years ago or trade with Southeast Asian countries, India’s trade today is 95 percent connected to this region. In such a scenario, a strong Indian Navy presence in the Indian Ocean Region becomes our top priority. The commissioning of these ships today will be another milestone in our journey toward achieving this goal,” added the Defence Minister.
Rajnath Singh Applauds Domestic Contribution To Naval Assets
Additionally, Rajnath Singh noted that over 75 percent of the content used in INS Surat and INS Nilgiri has developed domestically.
He noted, “We are rapidly advancing our modernization efforts. On one hand, we are producing large platforms domestically, and on the other, our focus is also on low-cost, high-impact systems that can make our armed forces potent in a short time.”
“The Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the “Year of Reforms.” Under this initiative, we are committed to implementing necessary reforms in the Ministry of Defence and the three armed forces. I am confident that by the end of the year, we will have introduced several reforms in the security sector that will help India’s defence sector reach new heights, Singh remarked.
INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, is one of the world’s largest and most advanced destroyers. Equipped with modern weapons and network-centric systems, it features 75% indigenous content.
INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. It features advanced technology for better survivability, stealth, and seakeeping, representing the next generation of frigates.
INS Vaghsheer, the final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project, highlights India’s growing expertise in submarine construction. France’s Naval Group supported its construction.
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