Visakhapatnam. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, October 6, launched the Indian Navy’s first Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1 Surya, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), marking a significant step in India’s effort to strengthen its blue-water logistics and maritime self-reliance.
The 43,500-tonne vessel is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being built for the Navy under a contract valued at approximately ₹19,000 crore. Designed to replenish frontline warships at sea, Surya will carry fuel, aviation fuel, fresh water, ammunition, provisions and other essential stores, allowing naval task groups to remain deployed for longer periods without returning to port.
The launch also highlighted the difference between a ship’s launch and its formal induction. After entering the water, Surya will undergo final equipment installation, trials and other preparations before joining the operational fleet. Reports indicate that this process could take several months.
The vessel is expected to carry around 20,000 tonnes of diesel, 2,500 tonnes of aviation fuel and approximately 1,000 tonnes of fresh water for transfer to other ships. It can also transport solid stores and is fitted with a helicopter deck for multi-role helicopter operations.
According to details released by HSL, the ship is about 223.6 metres long and 31.5 metres wide. Its propulsion system includes two main engines, each rated at 2 megawatts, giving it a top speed of approximately 20 knots. Defensive equipment includes AK-630 close-in weapon systems, the Kavach decoy system, torpedo-defence equipment and electronic-warfare systems.
The same ceremony marked progress on the wider five-ship programme. Singh laid the keel of FSS-5, the fifth and final vessel in the series, signalling that the project has moved into sustained series production. The first ship reportedly reached the water 18 months after steel cutting, a construction pace the Defence Ministry presented as evidence of HSL’s improving execution capability.
The Fleet Support Ships are intended to provide more than wartime replenishment. Their large cargo capacity and onboard support facilities are expected to assist humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, non-combatant evacuation operations and emergency responses across the Indian Ocean Region.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said the vessels would improve the Navy’s endurance, reach and response time. For a navy operating across distant maritime zones, replenishment ships are critical because combat vessels cannot sustain extended deployments on fuel and supplies carried solely from their home ports.
Singh also inaugurated HSL’s upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath crane. The new infrastructure will enable the shipyard to construct and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes, expanding its ability to handle larger and more complex naval platforms. The crane was developed under the Make in India initiative by L&T Geostructure in partnership with Konecranes.
The minister described the keel laying as a symbol of resolve and the upgraded slipway as evidence of India’s growing maritime-industrial capacity. He called for closer cooperation among the Navy, HSL, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, universities, private industry, micro, small and medium enterprises, and start-ups.
The event was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Admiral Swaminathan and senior defence officials. For HSL, the launch represents a broader turnaround after years of financial and operational difficulties. For the Navy, Surya is intended to become a moving logistics base-one that can keep warships at sea longer and reinforce India’s ability to respond across the region.
