Overview
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched FSS‑1, named Surya, which entered the Bay of Bengal after being floated at Hindustan Shipyard on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
- The same event saw the keel of FSS‑5 laid and the inauguration of an upgraded Slipway‑4 plus a 300‑tonne Goliath crane that HSL says lets it build and launch vessels up to about 45,000 DWT.
- HSL lists Surya’s key specifications as about 223.6 metres long, roughly 43,500 tonnes displacement, a top speed near 20 knots, and large transfer capacities including about 20,000 tonnes of diesel, 2,500 tonnes of aviation fuel and 1,000 tonnes of fresh water.
- The five‑ship FSS programme is reported at about ₹19,000–19,500 crore with roughly 82% indigenous content, with HSL expecting to deliver Surya next year and subsequent ships at about one every ten months.
- HSL’s use of modular construction, the new heavy‑lift crane and extended slipway aim to shorten build times, boost local industry and give the Indian Navy greater endurance, reach and faster response for operations and humanitarian missions in the Indian Ocean Region.