Surya: Indian Navy's First Indigenously Built Fleet Support Ship

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Key takeaways

The Defence Minister launched Surya (FSS-1) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited as the Indian Navy's first indigenously built Fleet Support Ship.
Hindustan Shipyard Limited is constructing a total of five Fleet Support Ships with about 82% indigenous content.
Surya has a displacement of around 43,500 tonnes and can carry nearly 20,000 tonnes of diesel for at-sea resupply.
The vessel measures approximately 223.6 m in length, travels at speeds of around 20 knots, and supports missions lasting up to 60 days.

The Defence Minister launched Surya (FSS-1) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam as the Indian Navy's first indigenously built Fleet Support Ship.
He also laid the keel for FSS-5 and opened newly upgraded shipbuilding facilities during the event.

Fleet Support Ships are large support vessels built to supply warships and submarines at sea with fuel, food, ammunition, and other stores.
These vessels help naval fleets stay deployed on missions for longer periods without needing to return to port frequently.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited is building five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy under one single contract.
Each ship features a displacement of approximately 43,500 tonnes and includes about 82% indigenous content to boost domestic manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The ship measures about 223.6 m in length and 31.5 m in width, with a top speed of roughly 20 knots.
It is designed to handle continuous missions lasting about 60 days.
The vessel can transport nearly 20,000 tonnes of diesel, 2,500 tonnes of aviation turbine fuel, and 1,000 tonnes of fresh water, along with weapons and stores.

Surya can refuel and resupply multiple warships at sea at the same time using alongside, stern, and helicopter transfer methods.
It features onboard maintenance workshops, a helicopter landing deck, and advanced self-defence systems against missiles, torpedoes, and mines.
These capabilities allow it to operate effectively across the Indian Ocean Region and distant waters.

The new support fleet will greatly improve the Indian Navy's blue-water capability, operational endurance, and global maritime reach.
It specifically supports carrier battle groups and surface action groups operating far away from the Indian coastline.

HSL upgraded its facilities, including Slipway No. 4 measuring 235 metres and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane.
These upgrades allow the yard to build and launch vessels weighing up to 45,000 DWT, boosting India's capacity to construct large naval platforms.