India Navy Commissions New INS Nistar Diving Vessel Enhancing Subsea Warfare and Rescue Capabilities.

According to information published on July 18, 2025, by the Indian Defense Ministry of Defense, INS Nistar, the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was officially commissioned into service at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam in the presence of Indian Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth. This landmark induction marks a significant expansion of India’s underwater warfare and submarine rescue capabilities, a domain traditionally mastered by only a few global navies.
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INS Nistar is the Indian Navy’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, equipped for deep sea saturation diving, complex underwater salvage, and submarine rescue operations up to 300 meters depth, significantly enhancing India's undersea warfare capability. (Picture source: Indian Navy)

The commissioning of INS Nistar marks a pivotal step in enhancing India’s undersea warfare and submarine rescue infrastructure. Designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, the vessel is a purpose-built platform for saturation diving operations, complex underwater salvage missions, and deep-sea submarine crew rescue efforts—critical capabilities for any true blue-water navy. The ship is equipped with advanced systems including Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Diving Support Chambers, and a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat, enabling operations at depths up to 300 meters. As the designated mother ship for India’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), INS Nistar can conduct rapid response missions to extract submariners from distressed vessels located far below the surface. This elevates India into an elite group of nations with fully integrated submarine rescue capabilities, a mission increasingly relevant in the strategic maritime geography of the Indo-Pacific.

Constructed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, INS Nistar is the lead ship in a two-vessel program and stands as a powerful example of indigenous innovation. Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth praised both the Navy and India’s maritime industry for pushing the boundaries of self-reliance and achieving more than 80 percent indigenous content in the project. He emphasized that the vessel’s induction reinforces India’s stature as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indian Ocean Region, while advancing national strategic autonomy and maritime preparedness. He described the commissioning of INS Nistar as a technological leap and a milestone in India’s defense industrial journey, expressing confidence in the Armed Forces’ ability to confront any challenge with homegrown strength.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi underlined the ship’s strategic importance, describing it as not only a technological milestone but a vital operational enabler that strengthens India’s regional naval partnerships. He stated that INS Nistar will support submarine rescue operations not just for the Indian Navy but also for friendly foreign forces, enhancing its role in humanitarian and maritime disaster response operations, oil field recovery, and wreck investigations. These multidomain applications further cement India’s position as a regional maritime leader. “The commissioning of Nistar is testimony to the growing capability and maturity of our maritime industrial base, and another shining example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” the Admiral said.

INS Nistar is designed for full-spectrum diving support missions and is installed with cutting-edge underwater intervention systems. It features a Remotely Operated Vehicle, Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Life Boat, and specialized diving chambers for saturation operations. The vessel can serve as the main support platform during submarine rescue, deep salvage, and recovery tasks. These capabilities allow the Indian Navy to conduct critical interventions at depths of up to 300 meters, responding rapidly to underwater emergencies across the region.

The development of INS Nistar is also emblematic of the broader transformation within India's naval industrial base. With more than 80 percent indigenous content and the involvement of over 120 Indian MSMEs, the vessel demonstrates India's ability to design, construct, and deliver highly specialized and technologically advanced platforms. It reflects the maturity of public and private shipyards alike, with India now having 57 warships and submarines under construction across facilities including Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). These efforts are central not only to India’s defense preparedness but also to its ambitions as a maritime exporter and a key player in international naval collaboration.

These developments signify more than just industrial milestones; they are central to India’s strategic autonomy, maritime diplomacy, and defense export ambitions. Platforms like INS Nistar symbolize a confident shift toward indigenous innovation and technical self-sufficiency, crucial for sustaining a modern navy capable of addressing emerging challenges in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Beyond its role as a tactical rescue and diving platform, INS Nistar functions as a strategic enabler, reinforcing India’s position as a dependable partner in regional security architecture.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior naval officials, key representatives from Hindustan Shipyard Limited, dignitaries, and veterans from the erstwhile INS Nistar, highlighting the continuity between India’s maritime legacy and its modern defense aspirations. With this addition, the Indian Navy not only gains a vital operational platform but also sends a message of technological confidence and regional leadership, firmly anchored in local industry and national strategic objectives.