Rajnath Singh Unveils New Support Ship In ₹19,000-Crore Plan To Expand Navy Operations

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched Surya, India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS), at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s efforts to strengthen its logistical capabilities and sustain longer deployments at sea. The vessel is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being constructed under a programme valued at around ₹19,000 crore. The project is aimed at enhancing the Navy’s operational reach and endurance while supporting the government’s broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and indigenous shipbuilding. The launch also highlighted the growing role of Indian shipyards in producing large naval platforms and specialised support vessels for the country’s maritime requirements.

Fleet Support Ships perform a critical logistical function by enabling naval vessels to replenish essential supplies while remaining deployed at sea. Surya and the other ships in the programme are designed to provide fuel, water, ammunition and other stores to warships, reducing their dependence on returning to ports during extended missions. This capability is particularly important for a navy operating across large maritime areas, where maintaining sustained presence can require substantial logistical support. By enabling frontline ships to receive supplies during deployment, Fleet Support Ships can help extend the duration of naval operations and improve the fleet’s ability to respond to situations across the Indian Ocean Region and other areas of strategic interest.

The launch of Surya was accompanied by other developments at Hindustan Shipyard Limited intended to strengthen the facility’s shipbuilding capacity. Singh also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship, FSS-5, marking the formal beginning of another vessel in the five-ship programme. In addition, he inaugurated an upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at the shipyard. According to the Defence Ministry, the upgraded infrastructure will enable HSL to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes. The investment in shipyard infrastructure is expected to allow the facility to undertake larger and more complex vessels while improving its ability to support future naval construction programmes.

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The five Fleet Support Ships are being built under a contract signed between the Indian Navy and HSL in August 2023. The vessels have a displacement of more than 40,000 tonnes and are being designed and constructed indigenously, with equipment sourced from Indian manufacturers. The programme also involves Larsen & Toubro’s Kattupalli shipyard, where two of the ships are being constructed under HSL’s arrangements to use additional domestic shipbuilding capacity. Deliveries are scheduled to begin from mid-2027. The programme therefore combines the Navy’s requirement for large replenishment vessels with efforts to expand industrial capacity and distribute major defence shipbuilding work across Indian facilities.

Beyond their conventional naval logistics role, the Fleet Support Ships are expected to contribute to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Their ability to transport and deliver essential supplies can be particularly valuable during emergencies when maritime logistics become necessary to support affected areas. Such capabilities can complement the Navy’s wider role in responding to natural disasters and other humanitarian situations. The programme is consequently not limited to strengthening the fleet’s warfighting endurance but also adds logistical capacity that can be used for relief and support missions. The indigenous construction of these vessels is also significant for India’s defence industrial base, as the programme requires domestic suppliers, shipyards and specialised manufacturing capabilities to work together on a large naval platform.

Addressing the ceremony, Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of developing strong maritime capabilities and strengthening India’s position in shipbuilding. He said the country must move beyond self-reliance towards global competitiveness, linking the development of domestic naval infrastructure with India’s wider maritime ambitions. The Defence Minister described the launch of FSS-1 as a symbol of achievement, the keel laying of FSS-5 as a sign of resolve and the upgraded shipyard facilities as evidence of expanding capacity. With Surya now launched and the remaining vessels progressing through construction, the five-ship programme is expected to add an important logistical component to the Indian Navy. The project also underlines the growing emphasis on building major naval assets within India while creating infrastructure and industrial capabilities that can support future maritime requirements.

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