Describing it as a proud moment for Indias indigenous ship building activity,Defence Minister AK Antony Saturday commissioned INS Sahyadri,the third stealth frigate of the Shivalik Class,at the Mumbai Naval Dockyard. Antony said the event was a big step towards self reliance in building warships. We have been gradually shifting from a buyers Navy to a builders Navy, he added. The maintenance of a strong and credible Navy and strengthening co-operation and friendship with other countries to promote regional and global stability is the need of the hour he said adding,Commissioning of the third stealth frigate of Shivalik Class therefore marks yet another significant step in securing our maritime goals. On shipbuilding capabilities,Antony emphasised on the need to match international standards in quality and build period,with production based on quality ships in a shorter time frame at competitive costs. Sahayadri took almost a decade to be made. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma,describing the design skills of Indian Navy ship-builders,spoke of the appreciation the Shivalik Class warships have been getting during port calls. We can say our warships are among the best in the world. Shivalik Class design has been appreciated by the eastern fleet during port calls in Japan,South Korea and China. Admiral Verma also spoke about the success of the pre-commission trials of the Shivalik class INS Sahyadri saying these have been commendable and at par with world shipbuilding infrastructure. The warship,named after the mountain range Sahyadri,can generate speeds of 30 knots and is equipped with an array of surface,sub-surface and air defence weapons,including long range anti ship missiles,anti-aircraft missiles,with two multi role helicopters embarked on the vessel. Sahyadri is the third of the indigenously designed and constructed stealth frigates of the Shivalik Class,built by Mazgaon Dock Ltd,Mumbai. A special postal cover was launched to mark the occasion. Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Dock Ltd,Rear Admiral RK Shrawat (retd),identified the commissioning of INS Sahyadri as the culmination of a prestigious project that began in 1990.
