India Commissions INS Nistar: A New Era in Naval Self-Reliance with Indigenous Diving Support Vessel
INS Nistar, India’s first indigenously built diving support vessel, has been commissioned, marking a significant leap in naval self-reliance and underwater rescue capabilities.
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India Commissions INS Nistar: A Landmark in Indigenous Naval Capability and Underwater Warfare Support
Visakhapatnam, July 21, 2025 — The Indian Navy has taken a significant stride toward maritime self-reliance and deep-sea rescue readiness with the formal commissioning of INS Nistar, the first indigenously built diving support vessel (DSV). Designed and constructed entirely in India, INS Nistar represents a critical addition to the Navy’s submarine support and rescue infrastructure.
Commissioned at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, the vessel is a testament to India’s growing expertise in advanced maritime engineering and its shift toward self-reliant defense manufacturing, in line with the government’s flagship Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
What is INS Nistar?
INS Nistar is a specialized deep-submergence rescue support and diving vessel, primarily built for:
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Submarine rescue operations.
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Underwater salvage and repair missions.
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Deep-sea diving support.
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Emergency deployment in underwater search and recovery tasks.
With the ability to operate sophisticated underwater equipment and carry out missions in extreme underwater conditions, INS Nistar will serve as a critical asset in ensuring the safety of submariners and safeguarding India’s underwater security interests.
Built by Indian Industry, Designed for Indian Needs
The ship was built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), one of India’s oldest shipbuilding firms, located in Visakhapatnam. The vessel was delivered ahead of schedule, highlighting the maturing capabilities of Indian defense manufacturing.
In a statement, Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, praised the collaborative effort between the Indian Navy’s Design Bureau and HSL.
“INS Nistar is a symbol of our indigenous strength and strategic foresight. It will enhance the Navy’s capability to conduct critical submarine rescue and deep-sea missions, ensuring operational continuity and crew safety.”
For technical specifications and defense insights, readers may refer to IDRW.org and BharatShakti.in, leading sources on Indian defense developments.
Key Features of INS Nistar
INS Nistar is equipped with some of the most advanced technologies in underwater operations:
1. Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Integration
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Capable of supporting DSRV operations up to 650 meters depth.
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Supports rapid deployment to submarine accident sites within hours.
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Offers safe extraction of crew from stranded submarines.
2. State-of-the-Art Diving Systems
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Twin saturation diving systems enabling operations up to 300 meters.
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Heliox gas management systems for deep-sea divers.
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Pressurized rescue chambers and decompression units.
3. Onboard Medical Facilities
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Advanced hyperbaric treatment chambers for deep-sea trauma.
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Fully equipped operation theater and medical support for rescue missions.
4. Dynamic Positioning and Navigation
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Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) to maintain vessel stability during rescue operations.
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Modern communication suites for seamless coordination with submarines and shore stations.
Strategic Significance for the Indian Navy
The commissioning of INS Nistar fills a critical capability gap in the Navy’s underwater operational infrastructure. Previously, India relied on leased or foreign-sourced platforms for submarine rescue missions. With INS Nistar, the Indian Navy now has:
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A dedicated indigenous vessel for underwater disaster response.
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Greater autonomy in strategic underwater domains.
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Enhanced capacity to support long-duration submarine deployments in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India is one of the few countries globally with dedicated submarine rescue assets, joining a club that includes the US, UK, Russia, and China.
Defense experts at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) note that such capabilities are not only vital during war but are essential in peacetime for accident response and confidence-building among submariners.
A Milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defense
INS Nistar is the latest in a string of indigenous defense successes, including:
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INS Vikrant – India’s first homegrown aircraft carrier.
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INS Kavaratti – a modern anti-submarine corvette.
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INS Arighat – part of India’s growing nuclear submarine fleet.
With more than 85% of the vessel’s components sourced from Indian manufacturers, INS Nistar reinforces the government’s goal of reducing reliance on foreign defense imports.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the commissioning as “a defining moment for India's maritime security ecosystem”, stating that indigenous platforms like Nistar will “ensure that India's defense needs are met by Indian innovation, Indian hands, and Indian vision.”
What This Means for Submarine Safety
Submarine accidents, while rare, can be catastrophic. The loss of Indonesia’s KRI Nanggala-402 in 2021 was a tragic reminder of how crucial rapid submarine rescue capabilities are.
With INS Nistar:
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The Indian Navy can now deploy a rescue response within hours.
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Crews have a higher chance of survival due to onboard hyperbaric and medical support.
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Joint rescue drills with other nations will increase India’s visibility and partnerships in submarine safety protocols.
Navy officials have confirmed plans to conduct bilateral rescue exercises with friendly navies, including Australia and the UK, as early as 2026.
Global and Regional Implications
The addition of INS Nistar not only strengthens national capability but also increases India’s strategic posture in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). As China continues to expand its underwater presence and deploy submarines to the region, India’s ability to safeguard its waters and respond to underwater threats becomes even more critical.
Maritime watchers believe that INS Nistar could also be offered for international humanitarian and rescue missions, enhancing India’s soft power projection.
For insights on India’s maritime diplomacy, consult analysis from Carnegie India and Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS).
Conclusion: A New Chapter in India's Naval Self-Reliance
The commissioning of INS Nistar is a monumental achievement for India’s maritime and defense landscape. It signals a strong commitment to indigenization, submarine safety, and strategic preparedness in the increasingly contested waters of the Indo-Pacific.
As India prepares to meet new naval challenges—from deep-sea surveillance to submarine deterrence—vessels like INS Nistar will play an invaluable role in safeguarding lives, territory, and sovereignty.
The Indian Navy has not just added a ship to its fleet—it has commissioned a symbol of resilience, innovation, and national pride.
