Defence
Act East Policy: India Gifts In-Service Warship To Vietnam
- INS Kirpan is the third indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette.
- The ship is equipped with a range of weapons and sensors and has participated in various operational engagements and humanitarian assistance operations.
INS Kirpan on sail from Visakhapatnam. (PIB)
On Wednesday (28 June), the in-service missile corvette Indian Naval Ship Kirpan set sail from Visakhapatnam, India, on her final journey to Vietnam.
During the recent visit of Vietnam Defence Minister Gen Phan Van Giang, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced the gifting of the in-service missile corvette to Vietnam.
The transfer of INS Kirpan to Vietnam marks the first occasion of India gifting a fully operational corvette to any 'Friendly Foreign Country'.
Currently, in active service in the Indian Navy, INS Kirpan is the third indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette. The ship is equipped with a range of weapons and sensors and has participated in various operational engagements and humanitarian assistance operations.
After arriving in Vietnam, the Vietnam People's Navy will receive the INS Kirpan.
At Naval Dockyard, Vice-Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Chief of Staff, led the officers and personnel of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in bidding farewell to the ship during a ceremonial function.
India And Vietnam Relations
In the defence sector, the cooperation is based on mutual strategic interests, a shared vision for regional stability and upholding the rules based on international order. After the signing of an MoU on Defence Cooperation by the two countries in November 2009, the relations have grown over the past decade.
In September 2016, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In June 2022, the two Defence Ministers signed a 'Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030'.
In the maritime domain, both the navies engage extensively through frequent operational interactions, structured periodic dialogues and information sharing mechanisms.
This Navy-to-Navy cooperation also encompasses a wide array of initiatives aimed at capacity building and capability enhancement, including supply of spares, repair of ships, deputation of instructors, and regular goodwill visits by naval ships and delegations.
The transfer of an indigenously built in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, from Indian Navy to Vietnam People’s Navy reflects India’s commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability.
The transfer of INS Kirpan to Vietnam resonates India’s vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)’.
