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United News of India
2 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Visakhapatnam: Steel Cutting of 4th FSS takes place at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd
Visakhapatnam, June 19 (UNI) Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) today said it has achieved a significant milestone with the steel cutting of the fourth Fleet Support Ship (FSS) for the Indian Navy. The ceremonial steel cutting was formally initiated by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Chief of the Naval Staff, in the presence of VAdm Rajesh Pendharkar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, CINCENC and VAdm Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM, CWP&A, a release said here. The CNS lauded HSL's progress and stated that the FSS will be the second-largest indigenous warship after INS Vikrant. At 223 meters long and over 40,000T in displacement, it will enable fleet replenishment, helicopter operations, frontline maintenance, and HADR support—boosting naval endurance at sea. Amidst evolving security challenges, he stressed the need for a combat-ready, future-proof Navy. Highlighting that 59 of 60 naval ships under construction are being built in India, he reaffirmed the Navy's commitment to self-reliance and the Prime Minister's 'Maha Sagar' vision for secure, cooperative maritime growth. Cmde Hemant Khatri, C&MD of HSL, highlighted the strategic importance of the FSS project - awarded after a long gap and affirmed HSL's readiness to deliver, leveraging experience from INS Dhruv and Diving Support Vessels. The fourth FSS will be built on the upgraded slipway with a 300T Goliath crane, enhancing HSL's capacity for future large naval projects like LPDs, Hemant said. In FY 2024–25, HSL posted its best-ever financials with Rs 1,783 Crore income, Rs 284 crore PBT, and a positive net worth of Rs 493 Cr after 40 years. Notably, all four FSSs began construction within 22 months of contract signing, reflecting strong execution and growing momentum, he added.. With a healthy order book, modern infrastructure, and focus on indigenisation and quality, HSL is well-positioned to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat and 'Make for the World.' UNI KNR RN
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Maharatna SAIL supplied entire requirement of special steel for newly commissioned INS Arnala
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): The requirement of special steel for India Navy's ship INS Arnala was wholly supplied by Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), taking a step forward towards the country's self-reliance in the defence sector and import substitution, the Ministry of Steel said in an official statement on Thursday. 'SAIL supplied the entire requirement of special steel for India's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), 'INS Arnala', which was commissioned into the Indian Navy on June 18, 2025,' the ministry's statement read. The Maharatna PSU also catered to the entire requirement of special steel for the other seven ASW-SWC corvettes being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). 'Partnering India's march towards defence indigenisation, SAIL has supplied the entire special steel for this project. This marks yet another impressive milestone in SAIL's journey to support India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative and help the nation lessen its import dependency,' the statement added. The Steel ministry also highlighted that SAIL has supplied the special steel for building the Navy's ships before too, including for INS Vikrant, INS Vindyagiri, INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, among other notable projects. On Wednesday, India's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan presiding over the ceremony. 'INS Arnala - the pioneering Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft - proudly joins the Indian Navy today, 18 June 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam,' the Indian Navy said in a statement earlier. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and delivered on May 8 at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli under a Public-Private Partnership, INS Arnala is the first in a series of eight ASW-SWCs being developed to enhance India's coastal defence, a prior statement from the Minister of Defence said. The 77-metre-long vessel, named after the historic Arnala fort off Vasai, Maharashtra, is equipped with advanced underwater surveillance systems, mine-laying capabilities, and is designed for operations in shallow waters. It is the largest Indian Naval warship propelled by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the ship has been designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). Notably, INS Arnala was delivered to the Navy during Operation Sindoor, when tensions were heightened, which in turn demonstrates the Navy's operational readiness and indigenous production capacity. (ANI)
Al Jazeera
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Are India and Pakistan preparing for a naval face-off in a future conflict?
Islamabad, Pakistan – When Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh visited the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on May 30, nearly three weeks after a ceasefire was announced with Pakistan after a four-day conflict, he had stern words for Islamabad. Wearing an Indian Navy baseball cap, with his initial 'R' emblazoned on it, Singh declared that Pakistan was fortunate the Indian Navy had not been called upon during the recent hostilities. 'Despite remaining silent, the Indian Navy succeeded in tying down the Pakistani Army. Just imagine what will happen when someone who can keep a country's army locked in a bottle, even by remaining silent, speaks up?' Singh said, standing in front of a Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jet on the deck of the 262-metre-long (860 feet) ship. Just two days later, on June 1, the Pakistan Navy issued a pointed response. In a message posted on X, it announced a two-day exercise, 'focusing on countering sub-conventional and asymmetric threats across all major ports and harbours of Pakistan'. These symbolic shows of strength followed India's 'Operation Sindoor' and Pakistan's 'Operation Bunyan Marsoos', the countries' respective codenames for the four-day conflict that ended in a ceasefire on May 10. The standoff was triggered by an April 22 attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, in which 26 civilians, almost all tourists, were killed. India blamed armed groups allegedly backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denied. On May 7, India launched missile strikes at multiple sites in Pakistan's Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing at least 51 people, including 11 soldiers and several children. Over the next three days, the two countries exchanged artillery and air power, hitting each other's airbases. The 96 hours of conflict brought 1.6 billion people to the brink of war. But while the navies largely remained passive observers, they monitored each other's movements – and were ready for action. Satellite imagery showed that the INS Vikrant moved towards Pakistan soon after the Pahalgam attack and remained deployed for four days in the Arabian Sea before returning to its base in Karnataka. Pakistan also mobilised its fleet, which was bolstered by the docking of a Turkish naval ship in Karachi on May 2. According to the Pakistani Navy, Turkish personnel engaged in 'a series of professional interactions' with their counterparts. Now, even amid the current pause in military tensions, analysts say Singh's remarks and Pakistan's naval drills highlight the growing part that maritime forces could play in the next chapter of their conflict. This is a role the Indian and Pakistani navies are well-versed in. After independence from Britain in August 1947, India inherited two-thirds of British India's naval assets. These saw no use during the first India-Pakistan war in 1947, over the contested Himalayan region of Kashmir. India and Pakistan both administer parts of Kashmir, along with China, which governs two thin strips. India claims all of Kashmir, while Pakistan claims all the parts not controlled by China, its ally. By the 1965 war, also over Kashmir, Pakistan had expanded its fleet with aid from the United States and United Kingdom, its Cold War allies. It had acquired Ghazi, a long-range submarine, giving it an edge over India, which lacked a submarine at the time, though it owned an aircraft carrier. Pakistan, to date, does not have an aircraft carrier. While the land war started on September 6, the Pakistan Navy joined the conflict on the night of September 7-8. A fleet of seven warships and submarine PNS Ghazi left Karachi harbour and made their way towards the Indian naval base of Dwarka in the western state of Gujarat, roughly 350km (217 miles) away. They were tasked with carrying out the 'bombardment of Dwarka about midnight using 50 rounds per ship', according to the Pakistan Navy's official account, targeting the base's radar and other installations. The selection of Dwarka was significant from a historical and strategic perspective. The city is home to one of the most sacred sites for Hindus, the Somnath Temple, on which the Pakistan Navy named its operation. Militarily, the radar installations in Dwarka were used to provide guidance to the Indian Air Force. Knocking them out would have made it harder for India to launch aerial attacks against Pakistani cities, especially Karachi. That, in turn, would have forced India to send out its warships from the nearby port of Bombay (now Mumbai) – and PNS Ghazi, the submarine, could have ambushed them. But the Pakistani plan only partly worked. Many Indian warships were under maintenance, and so the Indian Navy did not send them out to chase the Pakistani fleet. According to the Pakistan Navy's accounts, after firing about 350 rounds, the operation ended in 'four minutes' and all its ships returned safely. Syed Muhammad Obaidullah, a former commodore in the Pakistan Navy, recalled the attack. 'We were able to send eight vessels, seven ships and a submarine – that surprised the Indians, as our ships targeted the radar station used to assist Indian planes,' Obaidullah told Al Jazeera. Muhammad Shareh Qazi, a Lahore-based maritime security expert, added that the operation was a tactical surprise, but did not lead to any gains in territory or of the maritime continental shelf. 'All our ships returned safely, without resistance, but it was only an operational-level success for the PN, not a strategic one,' he said, referring to the Pakistan Navy. Official Indian Navy records claim that most of the shells fired by Pakistani ships caused no damage and remained unexploded. Anjali Ghosh, a professor of international relations at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in her book India's Foreign Policy, described the attack as 'daring' but symbolic rather than strategically 1971 war, fought over East Pakistan's secession to become Bangladesh, saw more substantial naval engagements. India launched two operations – Trident and Python – which dealt major blows to Pakistan's Navy, sinking several ships, including the destroyer PNS Khaibar and minesweeper PNS Muhafiz, and destroying fuel tanks at Karachi Harbour. Uday Bhaskar, a former commodore in the Indian Navy, said the navy played a pivotal role in India's 1971 victory. 'The naval role enabled the final outcome on land,' Bhaskar, the current director of the Society for Policy Studies, an independent think tank based in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera. Pakistan also suffered the loss of its prized submarine Ghazi, which sank while laying mines near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, home to India's Eastern Naval Command. The one major victory for the Pakistani Navy was its torpedoing of the Indian frigate INS Khukri using its submarine Hangor, which killed more than 170 Indian sailors. Qazi, who is also an assistant professor at Lahore's Punjab University, said that the Indian Navy replicated the Pakistani playbook from the 1965 war in the way it surprised the Pakistan Navy. 'India caused a heavy blow to Pakistan and our naval capabilities were severely dented,' he said. Since the 1971 war, India and Pakistan have approached different naval strategies. Obaidullah, who retired from the Pakistan Navy in 2008, said that India has tried to build a 'blue water navy' capable of projecting power across oceans. The idea: 'To assert its dominance in [the] Indian Ocean,' he said. Qazi, the maritime expert, agreed, saying that the Indian Navy has focused not just on building a numerical advantage in its naval assets but also on partnerships with nations such as Russia, which have helped it develop a powerful fleet. 'The Indian Navy now has the ability to conduct missions that can cover long distances, all the way down to Mauritius near southern Africa, or even some adventures in [the] Pacific Ocean as well,' he said. As the world's fifth-largest economy, India has invested heavily in naval development. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a London-based research institute focusing on defence and security issues, India has 29 principal surface combat vessels, including two aircraft carriers, 12 destroyers, 15 frigates and 18 submarines, of which two are nuclear-powered. Pakistan, by contrast, has prioritised its land and air forces. Its navy has grown more slowly, mainly through cooperation with China and Turkiye. It regularly holds major naval exercises with its allies, with the last one taking place in February this year. IISS data shows that Pakistan's navy lacks aircraft carriers and destroyers but includes 11 frigates, eight submarines and at least 21 patrol vessels. Obaidullah explained that Pakistan's naval ambitions and objectives are very different from those of India. 'India aims to project global power. We have a defensive navy to secure our sea lines of communication and deter aggression,' the former naval officer said. With more than 95 percent of Pakistan's trade sea-based, protecting maritime routes is its top priority. Maritime expert Qazi also said that the Pakistani Navy is focused on defending its 'littoral zones'. From a naval perspective, a 'littoral zone' is a critically important area close to coastlines, unlike the open ocean's 'blue water' expanse. It is within this space that countries engage in coastal defence. 'Pakistan has a small economy, and we do not have blue water ambitions. We do not have the capacity to build a fleet, nor [do] we need one,' Qazi said. 'Our defence paradigm is about defending our coastlines, and for that, we have our submarines, which carry cruise missiles.' The latest conflict saw both conventional and modern warfare, including drones used to strike deep inside each other's territory. But Singh's May 30 remarks suggest a more assertive naval posture in future conflicts, say analysts. 'If Pakistan does any unholy act this time, it is possible that the opening will be done by our navy,' Singh said during his speech on May 30. Bhaskar, the Indian commodore who retired in 2007, agreed that future conflicts could see naval escalation. 'If another military conflict escalates, the probability of navies being actively involved is high,' he said. Bashir Ali Abbas, a New Delhi-based maritime affairs expert and former fellow at the Stimson Center, in Washington, DC, said that naval platforms inherently serve multiple roles. Abbas said that warships and submarines can switch from patrolling missions or exercises to operational missions on short notice. But that would carry risks of its own. 'Should the Indian Navy play a substantial role in operations against Pakistan following the next crisis, then the element of escalation control practically disappears. Any ship-on-ship, or ship-on-land engagement will imply that India and Pakistan are at war,' he told Al Jazeera, adding that the risk of inadvertent nuclear escalation is also potentially highest in the nuclear domain. Qazi, however, said that Singh's statement was ambiguous about whether the Indian Navy would engage in surveillance or aggression. Any attack on Karachi, Pakistan's economic hub, would provoke a strong response, the Lahore-based analyst said. 'I believe India will choose to play hide and seek like it did this time,' Qazi said. But he added that there was a 'high probability' that India could attack Pakistan's naval installations on land, including its planes and radar stations. And that, he said, was an 'alarming possibility'.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Modernisation, self-reliance focus of Defence, says Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that significant changes have unfolded in the defence sector in the 11 years of his government, with a clear focus on both modernisation and self-reliance in defence production. He said on X, "The last 11 years have marked significant changes in our defence sector, with a clear focus on both modernisation and becoming self reliant when it comes to defence production. It is gladdening to see how the people of India have come together with the resolve of making India stronger." Modi shared a thread from a government's citizen engagement platform, which highlighted the changes in different areas as the prime minister completed 11 years in office on Tuesday. In just 11 years under Modi's visionary leadership, India has revolutionised its defence capabilities, deepened strategic global partnerships, and achieved historic milestones in space exploration, it said. Guided by his resolve for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the nation has embraced self-reliant innovation and expanded its influence in trade and technology, it added. "India's Rise in 11 Years: Power, Partnerships, and Progress," it said, putting out the government's initiatives and subsequent changes in different fields. India's defence exports have soared to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 1,940 crore in 2014-15, the post said, noting the country also unveiled its first indigenous aircraft carrier in INS Vikrant. It said, "This is the story of India's rise as a confident, decisive, and respected global leader driven by PM Modi's bold vision and unwavering commitment to a stronger Bharat." India's missile power had its precision and reach elevated, it said, mentioning Brahmos extended range version, which was successfully test-fired from Su-30 MKI, among others.
NDTV
10-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India's Defence Sector Is Becoming "Trusted Global Exporter": Rajnath Singh
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said during the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold and visionary" leadership, India's defence sector has transformed remarkably from a largely import-driven model to becoming a "trusted global exporter". In a post on X, he also underlined that the celebration of these years honours India's stride towards "strength, self-reliance and strategic global leadership". Sharing some data on defence exports, Mr Singh underlined the government's thrust on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' initiatives. India's defence exports have risen to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 1,940 crore in 2014-15, the Union minister said. He also highlighted India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, first indigenous multi-role combat helicopter LCH Prachand and the country's missile capabilities. "In the last 11 years, under the bold and visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi, India's defence sector has transformed remarkably from a largely import-driven model to becoming a trusted global exporter," Mr Singh said. "Powered by Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make In India, this journey has led to record-high defence exports to 100+ countries, indigenous milestones like LCH Prachand, Tejas fighter jets, BrahMos missile production and the rise of defence corridors attracting massive investments," he said. As "we celebrate #11YearsOfRakshaShakti, we honour India's stride towards strength, self-reliance and strategic global leadership", he said. In another post, Mr Singh shared a video titled 'Self-reliant defence: Strengthening Tomorrow's Bharat' depicting India's counter-terrorism stance, including Operation Sindoor, various military exercises, patrolling by troops, drop in insurgency cases in the northeast, and 'Nari Shakti' in the armed forces. "In the #11YearsOfRakshaShakti, India's defence sector has undergone a historic transformation under PM Modi's inspiring leadership which has resulted into stronger borders, modern armed forces, indigenous weapons, record defence exports and global trust. A proud stride towards self-reliance," Mr Singh said. This is the third term of the Modi government after the BJP-led NDA won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union council of ministers was held on June 9, 2024. Later, the PIB shared a fact sheet on major milestones for the sector on the past 11 years. "India's defence sector has witnessed an extraordinary transformation over the last eleven years. What was once limited in scale and ambition has grown into a confident, self-reliant ecosystem," it said. This shift has been shaped by "firm political resolve and strategic thinking". Strategic policies have sparked new energy across the board, from production and procurement to exports and innovation, the PIB said in the fact sheet. India's defence journey over the past eleven years has been defined by "bold decisions, strategic foresight, and unwavering resolve," it said. "The Ministry of Defence signed 193 contracts worth Rs 2,09,050 crore in 2024-25 -- the highest ever in a single year. Of these, 177 contracts were awarded to the domestic industry, amounting to Rs 1,68,922 crore," reads the fact sheet. The Ministry of Defence signed a "wet lease agreement with Metrea Management for one KC-135 Flight Refuelling Aircraft" during this period. "This is the first time the Indian Air Force has opted for a wet-leased FRA, which will be used for air-to-air refuelling training of pilots from both the Air Force and Navy. Delivery is expected within six months," it added. The fact sheet also talked about growing 'Nari Shakti' too in the armed forces Women have "taken centre stage" in India's defence forces over the last eleven years. The number of women officers across the services today, has "grown to over 11,000, reflecting a clear shift in policy and mindset", according to the fact sheet. The current government has opened new doors for women in uniform. Permanent Commission has been granted to 507 women officers, allowing them to pursue long-term careers and take on leadership roles. This move has reshaped opportunities for women across ranks and branches, it said. The National Defence Academy (NDA) has undergone a historic transformation by inducting female cadets, starting with the first batch of 17 in August 2022 as part of the 148th NDA course. Since then, 126 female cadets have joined across four batches, up to the 153rd course, reads the fact sheet. "On May 30, a landmark moment was marked when these 17 female cadets were among the 336 cadets who graduated from the 148th Course '" Spring Term 2025. This shift reflects the broader integration of women across defence domains, from combat support to piloting fighter jets, underscoring the belief that strength and service transcend gender," it added. The fact sheet also underlined India's current stand on counter-terrorism and emphasises on the recent Operation Sindoor to buttress the point. On counter-terrorism measures in Jammu and Kashmir, the PIB said terrorist-initiated incidents have dropped from 228 in 2018 to just 28 in 2024, demonstrating a strong correlation between integration and peace. "Additionally, stone-pelting incidents have recorded a 100 per cent drop, marking a new era of peace," it said. On countering Naxalism, the PIB shared some facts related to it, and said, "With continued support through special central assistance and targeted development, the government is on track to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026."
