India will hand over naval ship and in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) at Cam Ranh on Saturday. According to a press release issued by the Defense Ministry, the transfer reflects India’s commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capability and capacity.
This is the first time that India has gifted a fully operational Corvette to a friendly foreign country. According to the Defense Ministry, the transfer of INS Kirpan is a part of the Government of India’s ‘Act East’ and ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) policies.
The Defense Minister had announced the transfer of INS Kirpan on June 19, 2023, following which the indigenously built Khukri class missile corvette left for Vietnam on June 28 and reached Cam Ranh on July 8.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, will preside over the decommissioning and handover ceremony in Vietnam. He is currently on an official visit there and will be visiting Vietnam Navy Headquarters in Hai Phong for bilateral discussions with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, CINC, VPN.
The Defense Ministry said in a release that Admiral Kumar will also call on the Minister of National Defense of Vietnam. His visit marks the high level of bilateral defense engagements between the navies of the two countries as well as recognition of India’s ‘ASEAN Centrality’ to the region.
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