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The Defence Minister launched Surya (FSS-1), the Indian Navy's first indigenously built Fleet Support Ship (FSS), at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam. He also laid the keel of FSS-5 and inaugurated upgraded shipbuilding facilities at the yard.

About Fleet Support Ships (FSS)

  • FSS are large auxiliary naval vessels that replenish warships and submarines at sea with:
  • Fuel and lubricants
  • Ammunition
  • Food, stores and spare parts
  • Personnel
  • They allow naval formations to remain deployed for extended periods without returning to port, acting as the "logistics backbone" of a fleet.

The FSS Programme

  • HSL is constructing five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy under a single contract.
  • Displacement: around 43,500 tonnes per vessel (among the largest ships to be built in India).
  • Indigenous content: about 82%, reinforcing Atmanirbhar Bharat and domestic defence shipbuilding capacity.

Key Features of Surya (FSS-1)

  • Length: ~223.6 m; Width: ~31.5 m
  • Speed: around 20 knots
  • Mission endurance: designed for about 60-day missions
  • Cargo capacity:
  • Nearly 20,000 tonnes of diesel
  • 2,500 tonnes of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
  • 1,000 tonnes of fresh water
  • Plus ammunition and other supplies

Operational Capabilities

  • Can replenish multiple naval vessels simultaneously at sea through:
  • Alongside transfer
  • Stern (astern) transfer
  • Helicopter-based transfer (VERTREP)
  • Onboard maintenance facilities and a helicopter deck.
  • Equipped with self-defence systems against missiles, torpedoes and mines, enabling independent operation across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.

Strategic Significance

  • Enhances the Indian Navy's blue-water capability, operational endurance and maritime reach.
  • Critical for Carrier Battle Groups (CBGs) and Surface Action Groups (SAGs) operating far from Indian shores.
  • Supports India's role as a net security provider in the IOR and its stance in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Reduces dependence on foreign yards and foreign suppliers for high-end naval logistics platforms.

Shipbuilding Infrastructure Upgrades

  • Upgraded Slipway No. 4 (235 metres) and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at HSL.
  • These enable construction and launching of vessels up to 45,000 DWT (Deadweight Tonnage), boosting India's capability to build larger, more complex naval platforms.

Related Context

  • India's renewed focus on the Indian Ocean Region — strengthening maritime domain awareness, island territories and naval logistics.
  • Aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence, the Defence Industrial Corridors and the push for indigenous shipbuilding under the Strategic Partnership model.
  • Complements other indigenous platforms such as INS Vikrant (IAC-1), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class frigates, Kalvari-class submarines and survey vessels.

Key Takeaways for Prelims

  • Surya (FSS-1) — first indigenous Fleet Support Ship; built at HSL, Visakhapatnam.
  • 5 FSS under one contract; ~43,500 t displacement; ~82% indigenous content.
  • 20 knots, ~60-day mission endurance, 223.6 m × 31.5 m.
  • Replenishment modes: alongside, stern, helicopter-based.
  • Infrastructure: Slipway No. 4 (235 m) and 300-tonne Goliath Crane — up to 45,000 DWT.