INS Surat Hits The Mark: Indian Navy Successfully Tests Sea-Skimming Missile Defence

In a big boost to India’s naval strength, the Indian Navy’s newest indigenous guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, has successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement against a sea-skimming target in the Arabian Sea. This marks a major achievement in the country's efforts to become more self-reliant in defence manufacturing.

The Navy announced the success on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, saying, "IndianNavy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INSSurat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities." Sea-skimming missiles fly very low—just above sea level—making them difficult to detect. They are designed to sneak past radar and give warships very little time to respond. That INS Surat was able to detect and destroy such a threat proves that India now has powerful tools to defend its maritime borders.

This test used the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system, which is highly effective against incoming missiles and other aerial threats. Interestingly, the test took place before the Pakistan Navy was set to conduct their own missile tests in the Arabian Sea.

The Navy called the success a sign of India's strong commitment to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission. A statement from the Navy said: "This achievement demonstrates the Indian Navy's growing prowess in indigenous warship design, development, and operations, and underscores the nation's commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing."

INS Surat is the fourth and final ship of the Visakhapatnam-class (Project 15B) of guided missile destroyers. It was commissioned on January 15, 2025, and was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai under the guidance of the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. The ship is 75% indigenous and ranks among the most advanced destroyers in the world, equipped with smart weapons and advanced technology.

The Navy has also been active internationally. Earlier this week, Indian ships INS Chennai and INS Kesari departed from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, after completing the first-ever AIKEYME naval exercise with the Tanzanian Navy. The Navy wrote: "Marking the successful completion of the maiden edition of #AIKEYME exercise, the Indian Naval Ships #INSChennai and #INSKesari sailed from Dar es Salaam on #19Apr 25."  The event included cultural exchanges and a debrief attended by top military officials from both countries.

This successful test is not just about a single missile hit—it’s also about how different parts of the ship’s systems worked together to track, target, and hit the missile. This kind of network-centric warfare is becoming more important in modern naval battles.

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