Navy commissions 2 indigenously developed warships, 1 submarine; PM Modi says India becoming major maritime power

This is the first time Delhi has commissioned three warships, all built entirely in India, simultaneously.

This is seen as a message by the Indian defence sector showcasing its military self-sufficiency as well as a firm reply to Beijing as India and China jostle for strategic influence over the Indian Ocean region, and Pakistan's plan to build a 50-ship Navy with Chinese help.

It is also a critical step forward as India plans to upgrade its Soviet-era weaponry, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government spend over $15 billion last year, NDTV reported citing the Defence Ministry.

.As part of that overhaul of the military, PM Modi also has plans to rapidly increase and expand the country's warship and submarine fleets, incorporating the 'Make in India' push.

PM Modi, who was present at the occasion, said: "India is now becoming a major maritime power... (and) the commissioning of three frontline naval combatants will strengthen our efforts to become a global leader and augment our quest for self-reliance."

"We have taken a big step towards getting the Navy ready for this century," Modi said.

The two warships have been named INS Surat, and INS Nilgiri while the submarine will be known as Vaghsheer.

The stealth-capable INS Nilgiri is the flagship vessel of a new class of frigates - Project 17A - which will have seven ships and is a major evolution over the Shivalik-class currently in service.

Guided missile destroyer INS Surat is larger than the Nilgiri - at approximately 8,000 tons - and is the last ship of the Visakhapatnam class, which is seen as the Navy's most powerful surface combatant. It features subsystems from Russian and Israeli warships, as well as Ukrainian.

The INS Vagsheer is already known as a 'hunter-killer' submarine, thanks to superior stealth features like an advanced acoustic absorption technique and a revolutionary air-independent propulsion system.