Jai Hind Warriors!

We have seen that the entire Indian leadership is very proactive in response to the Pahalgam terror attacks. In response, INS Surat has been deployed and seem to be headed towards Karachi. So, on this note, let's see Everything you need to know about INS Surat.

🇮🇳 INS Surat – India’s Smartest Destroyer Yet!

INS Surat (D69) is the newest and final ship of the Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) destroyers, commissioned into the Indian Navy on 15 January 2025. Named after the historic port city of Surat, this warship is a symbol of India’s rising shipbuilding prowess and blue-water naval ambitions.

Let’s break it down the SSB way 👇

🔹 BACKGROUND: The Journey So Far

• The Indian Navy’s destroyer journey began with Project 15 (Delhi-class) in the 90s, evolved into 15A (Kolkata-class), and then into Project 15B, which includes:
• INS Visakhapatnam
• INS Mormugao
• INS Imphal
• INS Surat – the final and most refined of the class
• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) and designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, Surat was constructed using a modular block method, reducing build time.
• Surat went from keel-laying to delivery in just 31 months, making it the fastest delivery of an Indian destroyer yet!

🔹 TECH & WEAPONS: Why INS Surat Is a Beast

INS Surat is a 7,400-ton stealth guided-missile destroyer, and here’s what makes her lethal:

🚀 Missiles

• 32 × Barak-8 (SAM): Co-developed with Israel, these protect the ship from aircraft, drones & sea-skimming missiles (range ~70 km).
• 16 × BrahMos (Anti-ship/Land-attack): India’s pride – supersonic, accurate, and deadly (range ~300+ km).

🔫 Guns & CIWS

• 76mm OTO Melara Naval Gun: For surface & air threats.
• 4 × AK-630 CIWS: Last line of defense against missiles.
• Remote-controlled machine guns: For asymmetric threats like small boats.

⚓ Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• RBU-6000 Rocket Launchers
• 533mm Torpedo Tubes
• 2 × Helicopters (HAL Dhruv or Sea King) – for hunting subs and surveillance.

🔹RADARS & SENSORS: Eyes and Ears

• MF-STAR AESA Radar: Tracks multiple air/surface threats and guides Barak-8.
• RAWL-02 & Scanter Radars: For air/surface search.
• HUMSA-NG + Towed Array Sonar: Detects submarines above and below.

🛡️ Electronic Warfare (EW)

• Shakti EW Suite: Jams enemy radars and picks up threats.
• Kavach Chaff & Maareech Decoys: Confuses missiles & torpedoes.
• AI-enabled systems: Surat is India’s first AI-integrated warship – helping with quick decisions and predictive maintenance.

🔹 ENGINE & RANGE

• COGAG Propulsion: 4 gas turbines + diesel engines = fast & efficient.
• Speed: 30+ knots (~56 km/h).
• Range: 8,000 nautical miles (~15,000 km) at cruising speed.
• Endurance: ~45 days at sea without refueling – perfect for long patrols.

🔹 COMPARED TO OTHERS

🧭 Within India

• Same class as Visakhapatnam, Mormugao & Imphal – but Surat is fastest built and has AI upgrades.
• The weapon, radar, and propulsion systems are almost identical across the 15B class.

🌍 Globally

• Compared to:
• US Arleigh Burke-class (90+ VLS cells): Bigger & carries more missiles.
• China’s Type 055 (112 VLS): More heavily armed, but also much larger.
• Korean/Japanese destroyers: Some have more VLS cells, but INS Surat’s BrahMos gives her a unique edge with speed + punch.

✅ Conclusion: INS Surat is smaller in size but has a powerful punch – especially in the Indian Ocean Region.

🔹 STRATEGIC ROLE: Why It Matters

1. Carrier Escort: INS Surat defends India’s aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant & Vikramaditya) with its missiles and sensors.
2. Independent Surface Ops: Can lead missions in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, or even far seas like the Mediterranean.
3. Indian Ocean Dominance: With long range, smart sensors, and BrahMos onboard – Surat helps India be the Net Security Provider in the region.
4. AI & Network-Centric Warfare: Shares data with satellites, aircraft, and submarines – part of India’s push towards smarter warfare.
5. Make in India Success: Over 75% indigenous content, proving India can build world-class destroyers at home.

📝 Quick Specs Recap

🎯 Takeaway for SSB Aspirants

If you get asked in your personal interview or lecturette, here’s a crisp line to drop:

“INS Surat, India’s latest stealth destroyer, combines BrahMos firepower, Barak-8 air defense, and AI-enabled systems – making it a modern multi-role warship suited for both offensive strike missions and carrier escort duties in the Indian Ocean Region.”

It shows you’re aware of indigenous defense progress and strategic maritime vision.