Indigenous Vessel Nistar Commissioned in Visakhapatnam

Swift Summary

• Event: India’s first indigenously designed and built Diving support Vessel, Nistar, was commissioned on July 18, 2025, in Visakhapatnam.
• Historical Meaning: Originally launched on March 29, 1971, Nistar played a crucial role during the Indo-Pakistan war by locating Pakistan’s sunken submarine Gazi.
• Upgraded Version: The new Nistar features advanced saturation dive systems and deep submergence rescue capabilities for submarines. Weighing 10,500 tonnes and measuring 120 meters in length reflects a meaningful upgrade from its predecessor decommissioned in 1989.
• Remarks by CNS admiral Dinesh K Tripathi: The vessel positions India as a global leader in submarine rescue capabilities. only a few navies globally have such systems developed indigenously.
• Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth: Highlighted India’s shift from being an importer to exporter of defence goods with exports worth ₹23,622 crores; future targets are set at ₹50,000 crores. He emphasized India’s rising global identity and technological prowess tied to this achievement.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The commissioning of the upgraded Diving Support Vessel Nistar marks another significant milestone for India’s maritime defence sector and indigenous manufacturing capability. With its advanced technology enabling submarine rescues-a feature possessed by few navies worldwide-it strengthens India’s strategic position both regionally and globally while enhancing partnerships with friendly nations.

Additionally, the remarks about India’s conversion from an importer to an exporter in defense not only highlight industrial growth but also showcase ambition aligning with broader economic goals like targeting the third-largest economy status globally. This development reflects progress toward self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) while placing importance on leveraging local MSMEs as essential contributors to these advancements. Ultimately,vessels like Nistar symbolize technological resilience intertwined deeply with national security priorities.

Read more: The Hindu