India hands over missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam

Source: The post is based on the article “India hands over missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam”  published in Indian Express on 24th July 2023

What is the News?

The Indian Navy has decommissioned INS Kirpan and handed it over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN)—reflecting the growing defense ties and strategic partnership between New Delhi and Hanoi.

What is INS Kirpan?

INS Kirpan is a Khukri class indigenously-built missile corvette. It was commissioned in 1991.

The ship has been an integral part of the Navy’s Eastern Fleet and has participated in several operations.

It is manned by about 12 officers and 100 sailors and is 90 meters long and 10.45 meters in width with a maximum displacement of 1,450 tons.

The ship is fitted with a medium-range gun, 30 mm close-range guns, chaff launchers and surface-to-surface missiles.

What is the significance of India giving INS Kirpan to Vietnam?

The transfer of INS Kirpan from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam People’s Navy symbolizes the status of the Indian Navy of being the ‘Preferred Security partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region and would be a catalyst for enhancing the existing bilateral relations between India and Vietnam.

This development is also significant amid a growing Chinese influence in the South China sea, which is giving rise to territorial disputes with Vietnam in the region. 

What are the other deals signed between India and Vietnam recently?

India and Vietnam recently signed a Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 and had inked a pact on Mutual Logistics Support to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between them.

India has also handed over 12 high-speed guard boats to Vietnam at a ceremony at the Hong Ha Shipyard.

India has also announced gifting two simulators and monetary grant towards setting up of Language and IT Lab at Air Force Officers Training School for capacity building of Vietnamese Armed Forces.