India Gifts INS Kirpan to Vietnam
Context
Vietnam received the indigenous constructed in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan from India as a gift to improve its naval capability. This was disclosed on Monday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh following discussions with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang.
INS Kripan:
- It is an operational missile corvette made in the country.
- It is a missile corvette of the Khukri class that was commissioned into the Navy on January 12, 1991.
- It can move close to 1,400 tonnes with its displacement capacity.
- It is capable of travelling at a speed of above 25 mph.
- Diesel engines assembled in India are used in the Khukri class.
- The ship is equipped with a surface-to-surface missile launcher, a 30 mm close-range cannon, a medium-range gun, and chaff launchers.
- It carries out several different tasks, such as coastal and offshore patrol, coastal security, surface warfare, anti-piracy, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
Corvette
- A naval ship corvette is a small, fast, and manoeuvrable warship that typically operates in coastal waters.
- Corvettes are adaptable ships that can carry out a range of tasks, including coastal defence, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and maritime patrol.
- Corvettes are smaller than frigates and destroyers, typically ranging in size from 500 to 2,000 tons.
- Corvettes are highly adaptable and can be configured for different mission requirements. They can be used for patrol and surveillance, escorting larger naval vessels, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare, among other roles.
Why was the INS Kirpan gifted?
- India gifted the INS Kirpan, an indigenously-built missile corvette, to Vietnam to enhance its naval capabilities.
- Additionally, it contributed to strengthening the India- Vietnam relationship which will help in providing India with an ally in the region of South-East Asia.
What were the other agendas of the visit?
- During the discussions, which were mostly about reviewing the status of several bilateral defence cooperation programmes:
- Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the current activities.
- Improving marine security and collaboration between the two nations’ defence industries.
- To strengthen current collaborations, particularly in maritime security, international cooperation, and defence industry cooperation.
- General Phan paid a visit to the DRDO’s headquarters to discuss measures to improve defence industrial capabilities through collaboration in defence research and joint production.
What were the other documents signed?
- During the same visit, the defence ministers of both nations also signed a “Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam defence partnership towards 2030.”
- It is important to note that Vietnam already purchased 12 high-speed patrol boats for its border guard force in 2014 thanks to an Indian-extended $100 million Line of Credit.
