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In a symbolic assertion of India’s maritime rise and military self-reliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali this year aboard the Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant , off the western seaboard near Goa and Karwar.  Addressing sailors on the indigenous vessel, Modi described the experience as a deeply personal one, framing the Navy not only as a strategic arm of national defence but also as an embodiment of modern Indian resolve. Prime Minister Narendra Modi aboard INS Vikrant with Indian Navy personnel during Diwali.  Image: PM NaMo “This is my family,” Modi said, referring to the personnel onboard, “and I have come home for Diwali.” His remarks blended patriotic fervour with policy clarity, anchoring India’s naval capability to its larger strategic shift -- from regional balancing to active global maritime engagement. Witnessed an awe-inspiring Air Power Demo on INS Vikrant, showcasing precision and prowess. The take-off and landing of MiG-29 f...

The Indian Navy concluded its eighth Annual Safety Review at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on July 3, 2025. Held in a hybrid format over two days, the apex-level meeting brought together senior officers from Naval Headquarters, all Command HQs, and Safety Class Authorities to evaluate safety practices and strengthen the Navy’s safety framework. Image Source: PIB India on X Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, delivered the keynote address, while Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral K. Swaminathan presided over the proceedings in his capacity as Chairman of the Indian Navy’s Safety Committee. A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Safety Trend Analysis Tool (STAT) — a data-driven application developed jointly by the Indian Naval Safety Team (INST), Kochi, and the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N). STAT aims to enhance safety oversight by enabling pattern recognition a...

The Indian Navy will commission its newest stealth frigate, INS Tamal , on July 1, 2025, at Kaliningrad, Russia. This marks the last foreign-built warship India will induct, signaling a major step in its self-reliance defence doctrine. Tamal is the second in the upgraded Tushil class of Krivak-class frigates, blending Russian design with growing Indian technology input—26% of its components are indigenously produced, including the BrahMos cruise missile system. Image Source: File Photo/PIB Built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard under Indian oversight, Tamal features advanced surface-to-air missiles, upgraded naval guns, anti-submarine weapons, modern radars, electronic warfare systems, and network-centric warfare capabilities. The 3,900-ton vessel exceeds 30 knots and supports multi-role helicopters for extended maritime operations. It is named after Indra’s mythical sword.  Tamal shows India’s increasing naval capabilities and the enduring Indo-Russian defence partnership. Once co...

In a strategic push to transform India’s maritime ecosystem, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met Japan’s Vice Minister Terada Yoshimichi in Oslo today, pitching India as a hub for green ports, smart islands, and next-gen shipbuilding. Image Source: PIB India The meeting saw India invite Japan’s top shipbuilders— Imabari, Mitsubishi, JMUC, and Kanagawa Dockyard —to invest in India’s shipbuilding sector. Japanese giants NYK Line, MOL, and K Line were also urged to explore joint ventures, as India eyes ₹3.2 lakh crore (¥5 trillion) in Japanese investments by 2027. Sonowal underscored India’s readiness to collaborate on port digitisation, disaster-resilient infrastructure , and converting the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands into “Smart Islands” with renewable energy and mobility solutions. He called Japan’s experience in island development “highly valued.” On workforce collaboration, Sonowal highlighted India’s pool of 154,000 trained seafarers and offered structur...

In a historic first under the European Union's banner, two warships— ESPS Reina Sofia of the Spanish Navy and ITS Antonio Marceglia of the Italian Navy—docked in Mumbai from 26 May to 1 June 2025 for an operational turnaround. More than just a routine port call, this visit marks a significant milestone in India-EU strategic engagement, following high-level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Image Source: PIB India Operating under the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and commanded respectively by Cdr Salvador Moreno Regil and Cdr Alberto Bartolomeo, the ships’ presence in Indian waters reflects growing international alignment on maritime security. This deployment builds on commitments made during the 4th India-EU Maritime Security Dialogue held in New Delhi in March 2025 and represents the EU’s expanding operational outreach into the Indo-Pacific. Rear Admiral Davide Da Pozzo, Force Commander of Operati...

The sixth 25-ton Bollard Pull (BP) tug, Sabal , was formally launched today at the Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) shipyard in Kolkata. The event was held in the presence of Commodore S. Sreekumar, Warship Production Superintendent (WPS), Kolkata, who attended as the chief guest. Image Source: PIB India The tug is part of a contract awarded on November 12, 2021, to TRSL for the construction of six such vessels. Designed and built indigenously, the tugs conform to the Indian Register of Shipping’s (IRS) naval rules and regulations. Four of the six tugs have already been delivered and are currently in service with the Indian Navy. These tugs assist naval ships and submarines with berthing, un-berthing, and maneuvering in confined waters. In addition to towing capabilities, they are equipped to provide afloat fire-fighting support and conduct limited search and rescue operations. The 25T BP tug project is part of the Government of India’s "Make in India" and "Aatmani...