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Indian Navy conducts successful anti-ship firings, demonstrates prowess in carrying out long-range precision strikes

The Indian Navy's indigenous guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, successfully test-fired the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile in the Arabian Sea in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The warships included Kolkata-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class and Krivak-class frigates. (Photo: X/ IndianNavy)

Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian warships have conducted multiple successful anti-ship firings, demonstrating the Indian Navy’s prowess in carrying out long-range precision strikes and demonstrating the readiness of platforms, systems and crew for possible offensive actions.

In a post on X on Sunday, the Navy asserted that it is combat-ready to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests, while sharing multiple visuals of the demonstrations.

As per officials, the Navy was already out on a missile-firing deployment. “The latest anti-ships firings displayed its role switch capability from peacetime to combat, while still being out at sea without entering base ports,” an official said.

The warships included Kolkata-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class and Krivak-class frigates. The Navy’s tankers, and its latest aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and maritime patrol aircraft P-8Is also remain deployed in the Arabian Sea.

#IndianNavy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike.#IndianNavy stands #CombatReady #Credible and #FutureReady in safeguarding the nation’s maritime… pic.twitter.com/NWwSITBzKK

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) April 27, 2025

On Thursday, the Navy’s indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully test-fired the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile in the Arabian Sea.

“The Indian Navy’s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities,” the Navy had said in a statement.

Pakistan had issued a notification for the firings in the Arabian Sea.

The developments come amid increased tensions between India and Islamabad following a terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians—most of them tourists—were killed by terrorists.

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As India has vowed retaliation, the last few days have seen multiple operations carried out by security forces across Kashmir. Earlier this week, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Kashmir to review the security situation. There have been repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC), the Army said, adding that the Indian side has retaliated effectively. There were no casualties reported.

Amrita Nayak Dutta

Amrita Nayak Dutta writes on defence and national security as part of the national bureau of The Indian Express. In the past, Amrita has extensively reported on the media industry and broadcasting matters, urban affairs, bureaucracy and government policies. In the last 14 years of her career, she has worked in newspapers as well as in the online media space and is well versed with the functioning of both newsrooms. Amrita has worked in the northeast, Mumbai and Delhi. She has travelled extensively across the country, including in far-flung border areas, to bring detailed reports from the ground and has written investigative reports on media and defence. She has been working for The Indian Express since January 2023. ... Read More

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