Luxon was accompanied by Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Pics/Defence PRO
The dignitaries were welcomed aboard INS Surat by Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Western Naval Command, the statement said
During the visit, Luxon and the officials received a detailed briefing about the ship’s advanced design, technology, and powerful capabilities, the statement said
INS Surat was commissioned on January 15, 2025, is the latest guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. It was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai and designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. The ship, with over 75 per cent indigenous content, is an important symbol of India’s "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" campaign, it said
The visit of Prime Minister Luxon comes as the Royal New Zealand Navy Ship, HMNZS Te Kaha, is also in Mumbai from March 20 to 24, 2025. This visit, along with the presence of Commodore Rodger Ward, Commander of Combined Task Force 150, highlights the growing relationship between the Indian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy, the official statement said
It said that as part of his visit, Rear Admiral Golding met with Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh to discuss naval cooperation. He also visited the Heritage Hall at Naval Dockyard and spoke with the Admiral Superintendent about support for HMNZS Te Kaha’s future visit in April 2025
Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Te Kaha was accorded a warm welcome on her arrival in Mumbai on 20 March. Cdr Fiona Jameson, the Commanding Officer, called on Rear Adm Vidhyadhar Harke, CSO (Ops) at HQWNC, and discussed issues of mutual interest, an official statement said
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