INS Surat docks at Hazira on Gujarat Foundation Day
Surat: The Indian Naval Ship Surat arrived at
Adani Port
in Hazira on Thursday. The warship was welcomed by BJP MPs Mukesh Dalal and Govind Dholakia.
The crest of
INS Surat
bears a likeness of the Hazira Lighthouse, built in 1836, and Asiatic lions, symbolising the heritage of Gujarat and the excellence of the
Indian Navy
. The crest of the warship was unveiled in Surat in Nov 2023 by chief minister Bhupendra Patel.
From the 16th to 18th century, Surat was a major centre for shipbuilding and maritime trade. At one point, ships with the flags of 84 countries anchored in the waters of Surat. Surat played a vital role in maintaining maritime trade and commercial relations.
To honour the shipbuilding legacy of Gujarat's commercial and historic city of Surat, the Indian Navy named the warship INS Surat.
INS Surat is the fourth and final stealth guided missile destroyer of the Visakhapatnam class of the Navy's Project 15. Last year, the fourth warship of the class was named INS Surat.
On this occasion, Dalal said, "The warship Surat is named after the city of Surat, Gujarat's economic capital. Surat is renowned for its ancient maritime heritage and legacy in shipbuilding and with this step by the Navy, the bond between Surat and the Indian Navy has grown stronger."
Rajya Sabha MP Dholakia said, "Of the various warships India has, INS Surat is equipped with all advanced technologies. The arrival of this ship in Surat is a moment of pride for us."
The general public will not be allowed entry to view the ship. Only invited guests are allowed entry at Adani Port, a statement from the govt said.
INS Surat was built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Most of its equipment and resources are indigenously developed, reflecting the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India'. The ship is 167m in length, 17.4m in width and weighs 7,400 tonnes. It can travel at a speed of over 30 knots, which is more than 56kmph.
INS Surat is capable of anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. It is equipped with network-centric warfare capabilities and advanced sensors. It has a complement of 50 naval officers and 250 sailors. INS Surat is armed with 16 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for surface-to-surface attacks and 32 Barak-8 medium range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM) for surface-to-air defence. It also includes a 76mm super rapid gun mount (SRGM), four AK-630M close-in weapon systems, two twin L&T torpedo launchers and two L&T rocket launchers for anti-submarine warfare.
INS Surat is equipped with the advanced MF-STAR radar. It can operate helicopters such as the Chetak, ALH (advanced light helicopter), Sea King and MH-60R at day and night. It features a railless helicopter traversing system and a visual aid landing system.
On Jan 15, 2025, INS Surat was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, along with INS Nilgiri and INS Vagsheer. On April 24, INS Surat successfully conducted a test of the MRSAM in the Arabian Sea, accurately destroying a low-flying target approaching from the sea surface.
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