Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 3 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) for their efforts in making India a 'strong naval power.'

Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying of a large cavitation tunnel at NSTL, the Defence Minister said that the laboratory has created a benchmark in growing India's warfare and helping the country become self-reliant in this regard.

'Under DRDO, the work done by NSTL is a benchmark in itself. The research being conducted here on torpedo systems, underwater mines, decoys, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles--all of this is taking India forward in the direction of making it a strong naval power... Your growing capabilities indicate that we are taking the right steps towards future warfare,' he said.

'Moreover, the way you have worked on Lithium-ion battery technology is also very important. Earlier, we used to depend on others for these things. Today, we are designing ourselves, developing ourselves, and working with small and large industries to advance it,' he added.

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned the indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridaman into the Indian Navy, marking a significant step in India's strategic maritime capabilities.

The INS Aridaman is the third vessel of the Arihant class nuclear submarines being built for the Indian Navy under the Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam.

The induction of the nuclear submarine is going to further strengthen the capability of the forces.

The defence minister also inducted the frigate INS Taragiri in the city.

The induction of Taragiri comes at a time when the strategic and maritime importance of India's eastern seaboard continues to grow, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India's deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

The commissioning of Taragiri highlights the Navy's sustained focus on strengthening its combat readiness and operational might through its ambitious fleet augmentation programme. As the fourth potent platform of the Project 17A class, Taragiri is not merely a ship; it is a 6,670-tonne embodiment of the 'Make in India' spirit and the sophisticated engineering capabilities of our indigenous shipyards.

Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, this Frigate represents a generational leap over earlier designs, offering a sleeker form and a significantly reduced Radar Cross-Section that allows it to operate with lethal stealth. With indigenous content exceeding 75 per cent, the ship highlights the maturity of a domestic industrial ecosystem that now spans over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the GoI's Aatmanirbharta initiatives supports thousands of Indian jobs.

The Indian Navy continues to grow as a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, Aatmanirbhar force, safeguarding the seas for a Viksit, Samriddha Bharat guarded by ships designed by Indians, built by Indians and operated by Indians. Taragiri stands ready for a promising future as a beacon of rising maritime power and an ironclad guardian of the country's blue frontiers. (ANI)