Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally launched the Indian Navy’s maiden indigenous fleet support vessel, designated as ‘Surya’, during a ceremonial commissioning event hosted at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam. The massive 43,500-tonne replenishment vessel represents a crucial milestone in national maritime logistics, built with over eighty-two percent indigenous component content under the central government’s self-reliance manufacturing vision.
Engineered to deliver comprehensive logistical endurance to frontline naval combat formations, the support ship is capable of transferring liquid fuels, ammunition, fresh water, and critical provisions to warship task forces operating across open waters without requiring port docking. Senior naval commanders emphasized that the vessel significantly enhances the operational reach and blue-water power projection capabilities of the Indian Navy across the broader Indo-Pacific domain.
Addressing shipyard engineers and naval brass, Rajnath Singh commended domestic shipbuilders for demonstrating world-class design competencies and fostering an expansive ecosystem of micro and small component vendors. He reaffirmed that investments in indigenous naval manufacturing guarantee maritime sovereignty while generating skilled industrial employment opportunities across coastal industrial hubs.
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Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/morning-digest-october-7-2026/article71552917.ece