Rajnath Singh to commission Navy's first indigenous Fleet Support Vessel

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission the Indian Navy's first indigenous Fleet Support Vessel during a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on October 6, marking a significant milestone in India's naval self-reliance initiative.

The vessel, with a displacement of 45,000 tonnes, is the lead ship in a series of five Fleet Support Ships being constructed under a ₹19,000-crore contract signed between the Ministry of Defence and Hindustan Shipyard Limited in 2023. The contract underscores India's commitment to building advanced naval platforms domestically.

Fleet Support Vessels are critical multi-purpose ships designed to provide logistical support to naval task forces, including fuel, ammunition, food, and spare parts replenishment. The indigenous design and construction of these vessels will reduce India's dependence on foreign maritime platforms while generating employment and strengthening the domestic defence industrial base.

The launch represents the latest addition to the Navy's operational fleet as India continues to expand its maritime capabilities in the Indian Ocean region. The remaining four vessels under the contract are at various stages of construction at the Visakhapatnam-based shipyard.