INS Kirpan: Corvette gifted by India to Vietnam is a sign of growing defence ties

Indian Naval Ship INS Kirpan is being handed over to the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) as a gift from India.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, will preside over the Decommissioning followed by Handing Over Ceremony of the ship at Cam Ranh, Vietnam, later on Saturday.

This is the first time a fully operational corvette is being gifted by India to any country and it is a strong demonstration of the growing defence ties between India and Vietnam.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced the gifting of in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam during the India visit of Minister of National Defence of Vietnam General Phan Van Gang on June 19, 2023.

INS Kirpan is the third indigenously built Khukri class missile corvette which was in active service in the Indian Navy. She departed on her final journey under the Indian Tricolour from India to Vietnam on June 28, 2023, and reached Cam Ranh, Vietnam on July 8, 2023.

"The transfer of an indigenously built in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam People’s Navy reflects India’s commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability, and is in consonance with the Government of India’s policies of ‘Act East’ and ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)’," the Ministry of Defence said.

While in Vietnam, Admiral R Hari Kumar would also be visiting Vietnam People’s Navy’s Headquarters at Hai Phong for bilateral interaction with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, CINC, Vietnam People’s Navy and would be calling on the Minister of National Defence, Vietnam. "The visit of the CNS signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between IN and VPN, as well as India’s recognition of ‘ASEAN Centrality’ to the region," the Ministry of Defence said.

India and Vietnam share historical linkages and existing relations are strong and multifaceted, encompassing diverse sectors ranging from economy to defence.

In the defence sector, the cooperation is based on mutual strategic interests, a shared vision for regional stability and upholding the rules-based international order. After the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation by the two countries in November 2009, the relations have grown over the past decade.

The relationship between the two countries was upgraded from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2016.