Indian stealth battleships visit HCMC

“This visit is important as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishment of relations and the 75th anniversary of India’s declaration of independence,” Rear Admiral Sanjay Ballah, commander of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, told VnExpress at a press meet on board the INS Sahyadri.

During the three days that the two Indian naval vessels will remain anchored at the Nha Rong Port, Indian sailors will engage in diplomatic activities, visit the city and exchange experiences with the Vietnam People’s Navy and other agencies.

Rear Admiral Ballah emphasized that the visit was testament to the robust relationship between Vietnam and India and an opportunity to strengthen connections between the people of both countries.

By exchanging experiences with Vietnamese counterparts, the Indian side “expects to strengthen ties and mutual understanding between the two navies” and foster bilateral defense exchanges in the near future, he said.

Rear Admiral Sanjay Ballah (L), commander of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy and Colonel Varadan Kumar, defense attache of the Indian embassy in Vietnam at Nha Rong Port, HCMC on June 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/ Thanh Danh

Asked about the prospects of the Indian navy strengthening its role in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia region, Rear Admiral Ballah affirmed that the Eastern Fleet regularly deploys throughout the region towards ensuring maritime stability and security.

“The two battleships docking in HCMC also show the mutual trust that the two countries are building,” he said.

Colonel Varadan Kumar, defense attaché of the Indian embassy, said Vietnam was an important factor in India’s ‘Act East’ policy that primarily targets strengthening security and defense cooperation between the two countries.

“Both India and Vietnam are committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, of which defense and security cooperation is an important part,” Colonel Kumar said.

INS Sahyadri is the third battleship of the Shivalik-class multi-purpose stealth frigates built by India, commissioned by the navy in July 2012.

The INS Kadmatt corvette prepares to dock at Nha Rong Port, HCMC on June 24, 2022. Photo by Thanh Danh

The Shivalik-class battleship has a displacement of 6,200 tons, a length of 144 m, can move at a maximum speed of 59 km/h with a maximum activity range of 9,000 km, carrying two helicopters HAL Dhruv or Sea King Mk.42B.

The ship has a crew of 257, is equipped with 32 Barak 1 air defense missiles, 24 Shtil-1 medium-range air defense missiles, 8 launchers containing Kalibr or BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles, one OTO Melara 76 mm cannon, two AK-630 close-range defense complexes, two clusters of DTA-53-956 530 mm torpedo tubes and two RBU-6000 213 mm anti-submarine rocket launchers.

Accompanying the battleship INS Sahyadri on its Vietnam visit is the stealth light frigate INS Kadmatt. This warship was commissioned by the Indian Navy in January 2016. It’s put in the Kamorta class of light anti-submarine corvettes made by India, with a displacement of 3,300 tons, a length of 109 m with a crew of 123.

The INS Kadmatt corvette has a maximum speed of 46 km/h, a range of 6,000 km and carries a KA-28PL or HAL Dhruv helicopter.

The ship is equipped with an OTO Melara 76 mm cannon, two AK-630 close-range defense complexes, two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, two clusters of 533 mm torpedo tubes and combat systems.

Vietnam-India relations have developed strongly in recent years in the fields of economy, politics and security. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during a visit by the Prime Minister of India to Vietnam in September 2016.

National defense is an important part of the relationship between the two countries. When India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam June 8-10, the two sides signed a joint vision statement on the Vietnam-India defense partnership up to 2030, setting development orientations in defense cooperation between the two countries for the next decade.