Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to launch Navy’s FSS-1 at Visakhapatnam’s HSL on October 6

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) here on October 6.

During his visit, Mr. Singh will also lay the keel for Fleet Support Ship-5 (FSS-5) and inaugurate modernised infrastructure, including the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

The event will showcase India’s expanding defence manufacturing capabilities under the ₹19,000-crore contract signed with HSL for five 45,000-tonne replenishment vessels. The upgraded slipway and crane are expected to enhance HSL’s capacity to build, handle and launch large warships and other complex platforms domestically.

FSS-1 is being launched 18 months after its steel-cutting ceremony, signalling rapid progress towards series production. Once commissioned, the 43,500-tonne vessels will serve as ocean-going logistics platforms for the Navy, replenishing warships at sea with fuel, ammunition, water and provisions. This capability will enhance the endurance and operational reach of the fleet in the Indian Ocean Region by reducing the need for frequent returns to dockyards.

The upgraded Slipway-4 has an extended footprint and enhanced load-bearing capacity. Along with the newly installed 300-tonne Goliath Crane, it will enable HSL to construct and launch vessels of up to 45,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT). The shipyard said the upgrades would strengthen its ability to undertake large-scale defence shipbuilding projects.

The keel-laying of FSS-5 will further streamline the domestic production of large vessels. Unlike earlier naval replenishment ships that relied substantially on foreign shipyards, the entire project is being executed in India with a high degree of indigenous content. Deliveries of the fleet support ships are scheduled to begin progressively from 2027.

The launch ceremony will be attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Eastern Naval Command and HSL. Mr. Singh will also interact with naval personnel at the Naval Dockyard.