Indian Navy Ship Classes and Major Surface Combatants

The Indian Navy operates a diverse inventory of surface combatants designed to project power, protect sea lines of communication, and maintain maritime domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific region. As a blue-water naval force, its operational capability relies on a balanced mix of aircraft carriers, stealth guided-missile destroyers, multi-role frigates, anti-submarine corvettes, and amphibious warfare vessels. The navy follows an indigenization strategy led by domestic shipbuilders such as Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers form the centerpiece of the Indian Navy’s carrier battle groups, providing air dominance and long-range strike capabilities.

Active Aircraft Carriers

• INS Vikramaditya (R33): Modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier acquired from Russia (formerly Admiral Gorshkov) and commissioned in November 2013. It displaces approximately 45,000 tonnes and operates Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter jets alongside Kamov Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters using a Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system.
• INS Vikrant (R11): First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1) constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited and commissioned in September 2022. It displaces 45,000 tonnes, features a ski-jump deck, and carries a air wing comprising MiG-29K fighters, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and Advanced Light Helicopters.

Guided-Missile Destroyers

Destroyers act as primary offensive surface combatants, equipped with advanced anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare suites.

Major Destroyer Classes

• Visakhapatnam-Class (Project 15B): Follow-on class to the Kolkata-class, featuring stealth characteristics and high automation. Vessels in this class include INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, INS Imphal, and INS Surat. These ships displace 7,400 tonnes and feature the MF-STAR radar, Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• Kolkata-Class (Project 15A): First class of Indian destroyers equipped with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and vertical launch missile systems. It includes INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai.
• Delhi-Class (Project 15): First indigenously designed destroyer class in India. It includes INS Delhi, INS Mysore, and INS Mumbai, displacing 6,200 tonnes.
• Rajput-Class: Soviet-built Kashin-II class destroyers inducted between 1980 and 1987. Active vessels like INS Rana, INS Ranvir, and INS Ranvijay have undergone structural updates and weapon modernizations.

Multi-Role Frigates

Frigates form the backbone of escort operations, anti-submarine patrols, and surface warfare tasks.

Key Frigate Classes

• Nilgiri-Class (Project 17A): Advanced stealth guided-missile frigates built with integrated construction techniques. Ships in this class feature low radar cross-sections, BrahMos missile launchers, and Barak-8 defense systems.
• Shivalik-Class (Project 17): First Indian stealth frigate class, comprising INS Shivalik, INS Satpura, and INS Sahyadri. They displace 6,200 tonnes and incorporate structural radar-evading features.
• Talwar-Class (Project 11356): Modified Krivak-III class stealth frigates built in Russia across multiple batches, including ships like INS Talwar, INS Trishul, INS Tabar, INS Teg, INS Tarkash, INS Trikand, and INS Tushil.
• Brahmaputra-Class (Project 16A): Indigenous frigates developed as an improvement over the Godavari-class, featuring indigenous sonar and weapon control networks. Ships include INS Brahmaputra, INS Betwa, and INS Beas.

Corvettes and Light Combatants

Corvettes execute littoral defense, coastal surveillance, and specialized anti-submarine missions.

Major Corvette Categories

• Kamorta-Class (Project 28): Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built by GRSE. The class includes INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt, INS Kiltan, and INS Kavaratti, featuring over 90 percent indigenous content and carbon composite superstructures.
• Kora-Class (Project 25A): Guided-missile corvettes equipped with anti-ship missile batteries, including INS Kora, INS Kirch, INS Kulish, and INS Karmuk.
• Veer-Class (Project 1241.2): Indian variants of the Soviet Tarantul-class missile boats designed for high-speed coastal surface warfare.
• Arnala-Class (ASW Shallow Water Craft): Indigenous shallow-water anti-submarine warfare vessels designed to replace the Abhay-class corvettes for coastal sonar sweeps and patrol missions.

Surface Combatant Class Summary

Amphibious Warfare Vessels and Auxiliary Fleet

Amphibious vessels enable troop movement, vehicle transportation, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations across island territories and regional coastlines.

Amphibious Operations Fleet

• INS Jalashwa (L41): Austin-class amphibious transport dock acquired from the United States (formerly USS Trenton). It features a well deck to launch landing craft and can carry full military battalions along with utility helicopters.
• Shardul-Class & Magar-Class Tank Landing Ships: Indigenous amphibious ships designed to land main battle tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry directly onto unprepared beaches.
• Landing Craft Utility (LCU Mark IV): Built by GRSE, these specialized vessels transport troops, heavy equipment, and vehicles between sea bases and remote beaching sites, operating heavily in the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Auxiliary and Support Ships

• Deep-Sea Fleet Tankers: Ships like INS Deepak, INS Shakti, and INS Jyoti provide underway replenishment of fuel, provisions, and ammunition, extending the operational deployment range of carrier battle groups.
• Oceanographic Survey Vessels: Sandhayak-class survey ships conduct hydrographic mappings of the seabed, collecting environmental data for navigation and submarine operations.

Key Facts

• The motto of the Indian Navy is Sam no Varunah, taken from the Taittiriya Upanishad, meaning “May the Lord of Water be auspicious unto us.”
• INS Vikrant is the largest warship ever constructed in the maritime history of India.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai built the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and the Nilgiri-class frigates.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command in Port Blair is India’s first and only tri-services operational theater command.
• BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles serve as the primary strike weapon across Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Rajput, Shivalik, Nilgiri, and Talwar class surface ships.
• INS Jalashwa is the only amphibious transport dock (LPD) currently operational with the Indian Navy.
• The Kamorta-class corvettes feature high indigenous content and use carbon fiber composite materials in their superstructure to reduce weight and radar signature.
• Navy Day is celebrated annually on December 4 to commemorate Operation Trident, the attack on Karachi harbor during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.