Rajnath Singh to Launch Fleet Support Ship-1

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to launch Fleet Support Ship-1, lay the keel of Fleet Support Ship-5, and inaugurate upgraded shipyard infrastructure at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam on 6 October 2026. He is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for new facilities at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Koraput district for the Shakti helicopter engine programme.

Fleet Support Ships in the Indian Navy

Fleet Support Ships are auxiliary naval vessels used to replenish warships at sea. The Indian Navy is building five Fleet Support Ships, and each vessel has a displacement of 43,500 tonnes. FSS-1 is the first vessel in the series, and FSS-5 is the fifth vessel in the programme.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited and shipbuilding capacity

Hindustan Shipyard Limited is a shipbuilding and ship repair yard in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The upgraded Slipway-4 and the 300-tonne Goliath Crane are intended to support the construction and launch of vessels up to 45,000 Deadweight Tonnage. A slipway is an inclined structure used for launching ships into water.

Shakti helicopter engine programme

The Shakti engine is officially known as Safran Ardiden 1H1. It is a joint Indo-French programme between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Safran Helicopter Engines. The engine is used in Indian military helicopters, including the Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter Prachand, and Light Utility Helicopter.

Important Facts for Exams

• Fleet Support Ships are classified as replenishment vessels in naval logistics.
• Deadweight Tonnage, or DWT, measures the maximum carrying capacity of a ship.
• The Goliath Crane is a heavy-lift crane used in shipbuilding yards for large modules and hull sections.
• Safran Helicopter Engines is a French aerospace company involved in helicopter propulsion systems.

Industrial and defence production context

The HAL Koraput division is associated with aero-engine manufacturing and overhaul activities in India. The delivery of the 2,000th aero-engine marks a major production milestone for the division. A second production line for Shakti engines has been linked to an investment of ₹218 crore.