Indian Naval Ship Kirpan, after 32 years of service, has been decommissioned from the Indian Navy and handed over to the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) in a ceremony held at Cam Ranh naval base in Vietnam . The Decommissioning and Handing Over Ceremony was presided over by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy, and Rear Admiral Pham Manh Hung, Deputy ommander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, VPN .INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class Missile Corvette, has been an integral part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet since its commissioning in 1991. The ship, measuring 90 meters in length and 10.45 meters in width, with a maximum displacement of 1450 tons, has participated in numerous operations over the past 32 years. Manned by approximately 12 officers and 100 sailors, INS Kirpan has been handed over to the Vietnam People’s Navy with a complete weapon complement.
Admiral R Hari Kumar expressed his honor to be a part of the handing over ceremony and highlighted the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between India and Vietnam. He emphasized that this occasion is significant as it marks the first-ever instance of India offering a fully-operational Corvette to any friendly foreign country. The transfer of INS Kirpan symbolizes the status of the Indian Navy as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region and is expected to enhance the existing bilateral relations between the two navies.
The handover of INS Kirpan to the Vietnam People’s Navy is a testament to India’s commitment to its ‘Act East’ policy and its vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future. It also reflects the strengthening defense ties between India and Vietnam, as both countries share concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region.
The visit of Admiral R Hari Kumar to Vietnam signifies the high level of bilateral defense engagements between the Indian Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy, further cementing India’s recognition of ‘ASEAN Centrality’ to the region.