In a significant display of strengthening bilateral relations and maritime cooperation, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the gifting of the indigenous missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) during the visit of his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang to India on June 19, 2023.
The decommissioning and handing over ceremony of INS Kirpan took place after 32 years of dedicated service in the Indian Navy and was presided over by Navy Chief R. Hari Kumar and Rear Adm. Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, VPN. Notably, this historic event marks the first time India has ever offered a fully-operational corvette to a friendly foreign country.
INS Kirpan, manned by approximately 12 officers and 100 sailors, boasts an impressive length of 90 meters, a width of 10.45 meters, and a maximum displacement of 1,450 tons. The vessel has been handed over to VPN with complete weapon complement, making it a valuable addition to Vietnam’s naval capabilities.
During the ceremony, Adm. Kumar emphasized the vast potential of India’s shipbuilding industry and urged the Vietnam People’s Navy to explore the available opportunities for cooperation. He highlighted India’s indigenous shipbuilding prowess as an assurance to friends and partners that the Indian Navy stands ready and capable of supporting collective security needs in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The transfer of INS Kirpan symbolizes the status of the Indian Navy as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region and will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for further enhancing the existing bilateral relations between the two navies,” stated the Navy in a formal statement.
The relationship between the two navies has been robust, with regular engagements through operational interactions, structured dialogues, and information-sharing mechanisms. These initiatives have focused on capacity-building and capability enhancement, including spares-supply, ship repairs, and deputation of instructors.
Adm. Kumar reaffirmed India’s commitment to a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” where no country should be excluded. He stressed the importance of collaborative solutions and expressed the belief that like-minded navies could lead the way in promoting stability and security in the region. Adm. Kumar also expressed India’s keenness to expand engagement in fields like submarine rescue support, maintenance, and cooperation.
Both India and Vietnam share common values, particularly when it comes to their views on the Indo-Pacific. They view the region not just as a geographical construct but as an integrated area. To this end, the recent signing of the ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’ will significantly bolster security collaboration between the two nations. This agreement ensures that no single nation can unilaterally alter or misinterpret rules in the Indo-Pacific region to serve its own interests.
In the past, India has extended its support to Vietnam by providing training to Vietnamese Air Force pilots on SU-30 aircraft and assisting with the training of submarine crews of VPN on Kilo class submarines.
Adm. Kumar’s visit to Vietnam’s Headquarters at Hai Phong for bilateral interactions with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, Commander-in-Chief of VPN, and his meeting with the Minister of National Defence, Vietnam, are expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Vietnam, reinforcing their roles as responsible members of the global community committed to upholding fairness and justice in the international legal framework.
The gifting of INS Kirpan marks a momentous milestone in the growing camaraderie between India and Vietnam, reinforcing their commitment to jointly safeguarding a safe, secure, and stable Indo-Pacific region. As the two nations continue to deepen their defense ties, their cooperation is expected to have broader implications for regional security and stability.
