Indian Navy Demonstrates Combat Readiness Amid Heightened Tensions Following Pahalgam Attack

 NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy on Sunday successfully executed a series of anti-ship missile firings, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests. In a statement posted on X, the Navy said, “Indian Navy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems, and crew for long-range precision offensive strike. Indian Navy stands Combat Ready, Credible, and Future Ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow.”

The successful demonstrations come at a critical time, following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists, and escalated tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

On Thursday, the Navy’s newest indigenous guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, further strengthened India’s maritime defenses by successfully conducting a test firing of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system in the Arabian Sea. Developed jointly with Israel, the MR-SAM is capable of intercepting aerial threats and surface-to-surface missiles at ranges of up to 70 kilometers. "Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities," the Navy said.

Commissioned in January 2025, INS Surat is the fourth and final vessel of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyers built under Project 15B. Boasting 75% indigenous content, the warship is a testament to India's growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Equipped with BrahMos and Barak-8 missile systems, AI-integrated technologies, advanced radar suites, and robust network-centric warfare capabilities, INS Surat represents a formidable addition to India's maritime strength across multiple domains.

The Indian Navy’s latest operational demonstrations coincide with the government’s firm response to the Pahalgam attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a national address, vowed decisive action against those responsible. "The punishment will be significant and stringent, which these terrorists would have never even thought about," he stated, assuring citizens that India’s spirit and resilience against terrorism remain unshaken.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken charge of the investigation into the Pahalgam incident, intensifying efforts to uncover the conspiracy behind one of the deadliest terror attacks in Kashmir’s recent history.