In a significant display of operational readiness and technological capability, the Indian Navy's warship INS Surat successfully conducted a test firing of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) air defence system in the Arabian Sea.
The test comes ahead of a planned surface-to-surface missile test by the Pakistan Navy in the same maritime region, underscoring the Indian Navy's commitment to maintaining a robust and responsive defence posture.
Highlighting the precision and effectiveness of the system, the Indian Navy announced the success on social media, stating,
“#IndianNavy’s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer #INSSurat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities.”
(Source: Indian Navy on X)
The MR-SAM system is designed to neutralise a variety of airborne threats, including surface-to-surface missiles, enhancing the Navy’s layered air defence shield. The successful firing reinforces India's growing competence in indigenous warship design, missile development, and operational execution, according to a statement issued by the Navy.
INS Surat, the vessel that conducted the launch, is the fourth and final ship under the Project 15B Guided Missile Destroyer initiative. It stands out as one of the largest and most advanced destroyers globally, boasting 75 per cent indigenous content. The ship is outfitted with cutting-edge weapon-sensor systems and sophisticated network-centric warfare capabilities, making it a formidable asset in India’s naval fleet.
In a parallel development, the Indian Navy also highlighted the recent completion of the maiden edition of the AIKEYME exercise, a maritime cooperation initiative held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Indian naval ships INS Chennai and INS Kesari departed from the Tanzanian port on April 19, following the conclusion of the joint drill.
Marking the occasion, the Navy wrote on X:
“Marking the successful completion of the maiden edition of #AIKEYME exercise, the Indian Naval Ships #INSChennai and #INSKesari sailed from Dar es Salaam on #19Apr 25.”
The departure ceremony was attended by Rear Admiral AR Hassan, Navy Commander of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF), and Commodore Agyapal Singh, Defence Attaché of India. Personnel from TPDF were also present to bid farewell to the Indian ships.
The closing ceremony of the AIKEYME exercise took place earlier, on Sunday, and was graced by Major General Gaguti, Chief of Personnel of the TPDF, as the Chief Guest. The event included a comprehensive debrief of the exercise, cultural performances, and formal addresses by dignitaries from both nations.
These developments underline the Indian Navy’s dual focus on enhancing regional cooperation and advancing indigenous defence capabilities, reinforcing its status as a key maritime power in the Indian Ocean region.
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