Launch and Keel Laying of Fleet Support Ships
On October 6, 2026, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam launched FSS-1, the first of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) under construction. The launch ceremony was performed by Smt Laila Swaminathan, President of the Navy Welfare & Wellness Association (NWWA), in the presence of Chief Guest Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. The same event also marked the keel laying of FSS-5, the fifth ship in the series, and the inauguration of an Augmented Slipway, representing a key infrastructure upgrade at HSL.
The Fleet Support Ships are indigenously designed and built by HSL with over 82 percent indigenous content, demonstrating significant cooperation between the Indian Navy, the shipyard, defence industries, and MSMEs. Upon induction, these ships will augment the Indian Navy's 'Blue Water' capabilities by enabling replenishment of fleet ships at sea. They will significantly bolster operational logistics, enhancing the fleet's strategic reach and mobility.
In their secondary role, the ships are capable of undertaking Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), facilitating expeditious delivery of relief material and evacuation of personnel. This project represents a significant boost to the Indian shipbuilding industry and serves as a flagship initiative under the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programs.