India launched its first Fleet Support Ship, Surya, on October 6. But what exactly is a fleet support ship, and why does the Navy need five of them? Simply put, these ships are floating fuel stations and supply depots for warships at sea.

Warships burn huge amounts of fuel and need food, water, ammunition and spare parts. Without support ships, they must return to port often. A fleet support ship carries all these supplies and transfers them while both ships are moving. This lets the Navy stay deployed for longer in the Indian Ocean.

The five ships are 43,500-tonne vessels being built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard in Visakhapatnam. They will have helicopter decks, repair workshops and self-defence systems, plus enhanced cargo and fluid capacity. The first ship was launched 18 months after steel cutting, and deliveries are expected from mid-2027. The upgraded slipway now lets the yard build ships up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes, strengthening India’s shipbuilding base for the future.