OPINION | INS Nistar as a Force Multiplier: What is the Operational Impact and Strategic Implications?

By Commodore Ranjit Rai (Retd)

The commissioning of INS Nistar on 18 July 2025 marks a watershed moment for the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities and strategic maritime posture. As India’s first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel, Nistar represents far more than a technological achievement; it serves as a force multiplier that fundamentally enhances fleet endurance, submarine survivability, and India’s broader maritime strategy across the Indian Ocean Region.

A Sovereign Capability with Global Reach

INS Nistar’s induction places India amongst a select group of nations possessing advanced submarine rescue capabilities. The 118-metre vessel, displacing nearly 10,000 tonnes, is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment capable of deep-sea saturation diving operations up to 300 metres depth. This capability significantly extends India’s underwater operational envelope, providing the Navy with tools previously available only to major maritime powers.

The vessel’s role as the “mother ship” for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV) is particularly significant. Since 2018, the Indian Navy has operated DSRVs capable of rescuing personnel from disabled submarines at depths up to 650 metres. However, Nistar transforms this capability from a shore-based asset to a deployable, sea-based platform with global reach, a crucial distinction that dramatically enhances response times and operational flexibility.

Enhancing Fleet Endurance Through Specialised Support

The strategic value of INS Nistar extends beyond rescue operations to encompass comprehensive fleet support capabilities. With an endurance of over 60 days at sea and the capacity to undertake helicopter operations, the vessel significantly enhances the Indian Navy’s ability to maintain prolonged operations in distant waters. This extended operational capability is particularly vital for India’s growing blue-water naval ambitions.

The ship’s advanced medical facilities, including an operation theatre, intensive care unit, and an eight-bedded hospital with hyperbaric medical facilities, provide critical support infrastructure for extended naval operations. These capabilities enable the Indian Navy to conduct more ambitious and sustained operations, knowing that specialised medical and rescue support is readily available.

Revolutionising Submarine Survivability

Perhaps most significantly, INS Nistar fundamentally transforms submarine survivability for the Indian Navy’s growing underwater fleet. The Navy currently operates submarines of the Sindhughosh, Shishumar, and Kalvari classes, as well as nuclear-powered submarines. The inherent risks of submarine operations make rapid rescue capability essential, and traditional search and rescue methods are ineffective for disabled submarines.

Nistar’s comprehensive diving complex, featuring both air and saturation diving systems, underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and side scan sonar, creates an integrated rescue ecosystem. The vessel’s dynamic positioning system allows it to maintain position with extreme accuracy during complex underwater operations, whilst its 15-tonne subsea crane provides the mechanical capability for salvage operations.

The psychological impact on submarine crews cannot be understated. Knowing that advanced rescue capabilities are available enhances crew confidence, morale, and operational effectiveness, potentially allowing for more ambitious submarine deployments in support of national security objectives.

Strategic Maritime Implications

The commissioning of INS Nistar carries profound strategic implications for India’s maritime posture in the Indo-Pacific region. The vessel’s deployment with the Eastern Naval Command positions it strategically to support operations across the Bay of Bengal and into the wider Indo-Pacific, where submarine activity by various nations continues to increase.

The ship’s ROV capabilities, extending to a depth of 1,000 metres, provide India with advanced underwater surveillance and salvage capabilities that have both defensive and intelligence-gathering applications. This technological edge enhances India’s ability to monitor and respond to underwater activities in its areas of interest.

Furthermore, Nistar’s capabilities align with India’s broader “SAGAR” (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, positioning India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. The vessel’s humanitarian aid and disaster relief capabilities, combined with its rescue functions, enable India to respond to maritime emergencies affecting any nation in the region, thereby enhancing India’s soft power and regional leadership.

Indigenous Achievement and Strategic Autonomy

The vessel’s construction represents a triumph of India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative, with over 75 per cent indigenous content and participation from 120 micro, small, and medium enterprises. This achievement demonstrates India’s growing capability to design and construct complex naval platforms independently, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical defence capabilities.

Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam and designed in accordance with the Indian Register of Shipping classification rules, Nistar exemplifies successful indigenous defence production. The project’s success provides a template for future indigenous naval construction programmes, potentially transforming India’s shipbuilding industry.

A Legacy Renewed

INS Nistar continues the legacy of its predecessor, the original Nistar, which was acquired from the Soviet Union in 1969 and commissioned in 1971. That vessel served with distinction for two decades, making significant contributions to the Indian Navy’s diving and submarine rescue operations. The new Nistar’s motto, “Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam” (Deliverance with Precision and Bravery), reflects both this heritage and the vessel’s contemporary mission.

The ship’s crest, featuring an anchor symbolising maritime dominance and stability with a dolphin representing a seafarer’s friend and harbinger of fair weather, perfectly encapsulates its dual role as both a guardian of Indian maritime interests and a beacon of hope for sailors in distress.

Future Implications

As the first of a planned class of two diving support vessels, INS Nistar represents the beginning of a new era in Indian naval capabilities. The vessel’s successful construction and deployment will likely inform future indigenous naval programmes, including more advanced underwater platforms and systems.

The commissioning of INS Nistar thus represents more than the addition of a single platform to the Indian Navy’s fleet. It signifies India’s emergence as a significant maritime power with advanced underwater capabilities, enhanced strategic autonomy, and the technological foundation for future naval expansion. As India continues to assert its role as a leading maritime power in the Indo-Pacific, INS Nistar stands as both guardian of the deep and harbinger of India’s naval future.

About Author

Cmde. Ranjit Rai is an Indian Naval Veteran who has served as the Director Naval Intelligence and Director Naval Operations, and is the author of the book ‘Indian Navy @75: Reminiscing the Voyage’