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INS Kirpan (photo : Indian Navy)
India handed over its decommissioned small corvette to Vietnam on July 22 at Cam Ranh port, according to an announcement from the Indian Defense Ministry on the same day.
The announcement was quoted by Indian media as saying, Indian Navy Commander - Admiral R. Hari Kumar will preside over the dismantling ceremony of INS Kirpan and then the handover ceremony to Vietnam at Cam Ranh port.
Admiral Kumar will also visit the headquarters of the Vietnam People's Navy in Hai Phong, meet the Navy Commander - Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, and meet with Defense Minister Phan Van Giang.
The INS Kirpan has 32 years of service in the fleet of the Indian Navy. The ship weighs 1,350 tons and can carry medium-range guns, 30mm short-range guns, rocket launchers. The ship left the port in India on June 28 and arrived at Cam Ranh port on July 8.
On June 19, during Minister Phan Van Giang's visit to India, Indian Defense Minister Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh announced to give Vietnam the INS Kirpan patrol ship.
India's donation of frigates to Vietnam is said to be aimed at increasing the defense capabilities of the Vietnamese Navy, which is facing increasing challenges from neighboring China in negotiating over sovereignty in the East Sea.
Last year, India also handed over 12 high-speed patrol boats to Vietnam during the visit of the Indian Defense Minister to Hanoi.
Previously, in 2016, India offered to provide Vietnam with a defense credit of USD 500 million to buy weapons.
(RFA)