Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched the Indian Navy's first indigenously built Fleet Support Ship, christened Surya, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam. The 43,500-tonne vessel is the lead ship of a five-ship programme.At the same ceremony, Singh laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath crane, which will let the yard build vessels up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes.Fleet Support Ships provide logistics and replenishment to warships during long operations at sea, carrying fuel, cargo and supplies with at-sea refuelling capability. Surya also has first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for multi-role helicopters and self-defence systems."The launch of FSS-1 is a symbol of achievement, keel laying of FSS-5 is a symbol of resolve and the new slipway is a symbol of our growing capability," Singh said. The ships will extend the Navy's reach and endurance across the Indian Ocean Region.