Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 60 huge Navy ships, worth approximately Rs 1.5 trillion, are now being built in the nation. The investment is anticipated to create a sixfold employment multiplier effect and an economic circulation of approximately Rs 3 trillion. He added that up to 14,000 direct and indirect jobs are created during the building of each vessel. These statements were given by Modi during the commissioning of three frontline Indian Navy combatants at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai: INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer.
This was the first time three large battleships were put into service simultaneously. India is where all three of the frontline platforms were manufactured. “The ‘Make in India’ initiative is not only enhancing the capabilities of India’s armed forces but also opening new avenues for economic progress,” the prime minister stated. He used the example of the shipbuilding industry, pointing out that experts estimate the economic benefit of every rupee invested in shipbuilding is almost doubled.
While highlighting that “60 large ships” are under construction in the country, the prime minister stated that most ship parts are sourced from domestic micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and emphasised that if 2,000 workers are involved in building a ship, it creates around 12,000 jobs in other industries, particularly in the MSME sector. While he did not specifically refer to the vessels under construction as warships, the Indian Navy had 60 such vessels being built in Indian shipyards as of December.
In line with Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence, the Prime Minister highlighted that the armed forces have identified over 5,000 items and equipment that will no longer be imported. He noted the establishment of India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility in Karnataka and a transport aircraft factory for the armed forces. He also emphasised the role of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in boosting domestic defence production.
He also expressed satisfaction with the Navy’s Make in India progress, citing the addition of 33 ships and seven submarines over the past decade, with 39 out of 40 naval vessels being built in Indian shipyards, including the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and nuclear submarines like INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.
The MoD release also provided details of the three vessels commissioned on Wednesday. INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, is among the largest and most advanced destroyers in the world, with 75 per cent indigenous content and state-of-the-art weapon-sensor systems, along with cutting-edge network-centric capabilities.
INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, was designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and features enhanced survivability, seakeeping, and stealth capabilities, representing the next generation of indigenous frigates.
INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project, showcases India’s growing expertise in submarine construction and was built in collaboration with France’s Naval Group.
