Key Highlights:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched two new Indian Navy warships, INS Agray and INS Akshay, in Kolkata.
- In his address, he notably referred to the advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) as a “floating F-35,” highlighting its cutting-edge technology.
- The event was hailed as a significant milestone for India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative in defence manufacturing.
KOLKATA – In a significant stride towards bolstering indigenous defence capabilities, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched two new warships for the Indian Navy at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) facility here on Wednesday. The event, however, took a memorable turn when the minister drew a powerful parallel to one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
The two vessels launched were the ‘Agra’ class of warships: INS Agray and INS Akshay. These are classified as Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), designed to excel in the complex and critical role of detecting and neutralizing enemy submarines in coastal waters.
Presiding over the ceremony, Shri Singh commended the GRSE team for their role in strengthening India’s naval prowess. It was during his praise for the sophisticated technology packed into these sleek vessels that he made his evocative analogy.
“Some time back, I had gone to America. They were praising their F-35 aircraft… I see today, we have a floating F-35,” the Defence Minister stated, emphasizing that the domestically built warship embodies a similar level of technological sophistication and strategic impact within its domain.
The remark, while metaphorical, signals the high confidence the government has in the quality and capability of its homegrown defence equipment. The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter, renowned for its advanced sensor fusion and network-centric warfare capabilities.
Beyond the headline-grabbing comparison, the launch itself is a cornerstone of the Indian Navy’s modernization plan. These ASW ships are specifically engineered for shallow water operations, a key tactical area where detecting silent, modern submarines is exceptionally challenging. They will replace the aging Abhay-class ships, bringing in a new era of enhanced underwater surveillance and strike capabilities.
The event was underscored by a strong reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India). The construction of these warships at GRSE, a Miniratna Category 1 company under the Ministry of Defence, is a testament to the growing expertise and capacity of India’s domestic shipbuilding industry.
With the launch of these “floating sentinels,” the Indian Navy is poised to significantly enhance its anti-submarine warfare footprint, securing the nation’s coastal frontiers with technology that commands global respect.
Leave a Reply