One country has a flying F-35, but you have built a floating F-35: Rajnath Singh proud of Indian Navy’s power
India’s maritime power is scaling new heights day by day. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched two state-of-the-art stealth frigates – INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri – during a historic ceremony held at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. On this occasion, he praised the Indian Navy and said –
“Today you have launched the indigenous F-35 warship. One country has a flying F-35, but you have built a floating F-35, that too manufactured in India.”
His statement not only highlighted the growing strategic capability of the Indian Navy, but also made it clear that India is not going to back down in any way on the path of self-reliance.
INS Udayagiri and INS Himgiri: A new chapter of India’s maritime power
INS Udayagiri and INS Himgiri, which have joined the Indian Navy fleet, are not ordinary warships. Both these ships are equipped with modern technology, stealth capability, advanced weapons and sensor systems, which enable them to face any maritime challenge of the 21st century.
INS Udayagiri – This is the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigate. It has been prepared by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
INS Himgiri – It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and is the first warship of the P-17A project.
Both the ships reflect the capability of India’s shipbuilding industry and give the message that now the country can build world-class warships on its own, rather than depend on foreign countries for advanced technology.
‘Unrivalled protector of the seas’
Rajnath Singh said during the ceremony that the weapons and sensor package of these two frigates make them “unrivalled protectors of the seas”.
These include state-of-the-art weapons such as supersonic BrahMos missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, torpedo launchers, combat management systems and fire control systems. This combination not only gives them offensive capabilities but also makes them impenetrable from the defence point of view.
Project 17A frigates: A confluence of technology and power
INS Udayagiri and INS Himgiri are Project 17A (P-17A) class ships. The project is based on the earlier Shivalik-class (P-17) frigates but has made significant improvements in their design and technology.
Key features:
1. Weight and size
They have a displacement of about 6,700 tonnes, which is about 5% more than the Shivalik-class.
Their design is such that radar cannot track them easily (low radar cross section).
2. Weapon system
Supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles
Medium-range surface-to-air missiles
76 mm MR gun, 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems
3. Modular construction technology
INS Udaygiri is built using modular construction method adopted by Indian shipyards.
This is why it is called the fastest ship of its class.
4. Stealth technology
Their shape and structure are designed in such a way that they do not easily come in the eyes of the enemy.
INS Udaygiri: 100th design milestone
INS Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB). This achievement is a milestone in India’s indigenous warship design history.
Over the past five decades, India has gradually reached a point where it can now build state-of-the-art warships not only for itself but potentially for other countries as well.
Step towards ‘Blue Water Navy’
The construction of ships like INS Udayagiri and Himgiri is a big step towards making India a blue water navy.
What is a Blue Water Navy?
A “blue water navy” is a navy that is capable of conducting operations in distant oceans and not just confined to its coast.
The advanced technology and weapons present in these frigates give India the ability to maintain strategic balance not only in the Indian Ocean region but also globally.
Indian Navy: A strong pillar of self-reliant India
Rajnath Singh praised the Navy on this occasion and said that India is no longer just a consumer country but has also become a manufacturer country.
Earlier India had to import warships and weapon systems.
Today India is building stealth frigates, aircraft carriers, submarines and missiles on its own.
This achievement is the strongest example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
Global perspective and comparison
When Rajnath Singh said –
“One country has a flying F-35 and you have built a floating F-35”,
it was a direct reference to the US’s F-35 Lightning-II stealth fighter jet.
The US’s F-35 is considered the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
On the same lines, India’s “floating F-35” (INS Udaygiri and Himgiri) shows India’s power and technological advancement at sea.
This comparison also showed that India is now making its own identity on the global stage in terms of technology and strategic power.
India’s strategic strength
Amidst China’s increasing activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and US-China tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, India’s move holds immense strategic importance.
These warships will strengthen maritime security.
Will help secure trade routes and energy supplies.
Will strengthen India’s position in times of any crisis.
Symbol of technological self-reliance
INS Udayagiri and Himgiri are proof that India is now becoming completely self-reliant in shipbuilding.
Indian shipyards like MDL and GRSE are meeting world-class standards today.
This reflects the hard work and vision of Indian engineers and scientists.
With this, India’s defense production sector will not only meet domestic demand but will also contribute to exports.
Future of Indian Navy
With the addition of these two warships, the Indian Navy has become more modern and aggressive. In the coming years:
More P-17A frigates will be inducted.
India already has aircraft carriers like INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya.
The strength of nuclear submarines will also further enhance the strength of the Navy.
In this way, the Indian Navy will play a vital role not only in coastal security but also in the security of international sea routes.
Conclusion
The launch of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri is not just the construction of two new warships but it is a testimony to India’s technological capability, self-reliance and strategic power.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement –
“You have built a floating F-35” –
is a proud moment for both India’s shipbuilding industry and the Navy.
Today India stands at a position where it can compete with any major navy in the world. This is not just an achievement of the Indian Navy but also an echo of self-reliant India which will grow louder in the times to come.
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