India handed over INS Kirpan, a corvette in active use by the Indian Navy, to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) on Saturday.

“On completing 32 years of illustrious service to the nation, Indian Naval Ship Kirpan has been decommissioned from the Indian Navy and handed over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) today at Cam Ranh, Vietnam. The Decommissioning and Handing Over Ceremony of INS Kirpan to VPN was presided over by Adm R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Rear Adm Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, VPN," reads a press statement by PIB.

India on Saturday handed over its in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam in a landmark move that reflects the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the maritime domain.

INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette, was decommissioned from the Indian Navy after completing 32 years of service. It was handed over to the Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) with a complete weapons complement.

The handover ceremony was held at the Cam Ranh naval base in Vietnam, and was attended by Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and his Vietnamese counterpart, Admiral Nguyen Van Hien.

In a speech at the ceremony, Admiral Kumar said that the handover of INS Kirpan was a "symbol of the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between India and Vietnam." He also said that the ship would "strengthen the capabilities of the VPN and help to safeguard the maritime interests of the two countries."

Admiral Hien thanked India for the gift of INS Kirpan, and said that it would "play a significant role in strengthening the maritime security of Vietnam." He also said that the handover of the ship was a "testament to the strong and growing friendship between Vietnam and India."

The handover of INS Kirpan is a significant development in the India-Vietnam relationship. It is the first time that India has gifted a fully operational warship to any foreign country. The move is seen as a sign of India's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Vietnam, and to countering China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Here are some of the implications of the handover of INS Kirpan:

It is a sign of India's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

It is a signal to China that India is willing to work with other countries in the region to counter China's growing influence.

It will help to boost the capabilities of the VPN and help to safeguard the maritime interests of Vietnam.

It is a landmark move that could pave the way for further cooperation between India and Vietnam in the maritime domain.

According to the Indian Navy chief, this marks the first time India has handed over a full operational corvette to a foreign country. "We are certain that they (Vietnam People’s Navy) will harness its immense potential to safeguard their national maritime interests, contribute to regional security, and foster peace and stability," said Admiral Hari Kumar.

India has steadily bolstered its defence partnership with Vietnam in recent years. In 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed the country 12 high speed patrol guard boats. According to Premesha Saha of the Observer Research Foundation, five of these were built in India while the rest were built in Vietnam under an Indian Line of Credit. 

India has also helped the country build its defence technological capabilities and sponsored the establishment of an Army Software Park with a $5 million grant. India has also signed a mutual logistics support agreement with Vietnam.

"The transfer of INS Kirpan from the Indian Navy to Vietnam People's Navy symbolises the status of Indian Navy of being the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region," according to the PIB’s press release.

Vietnam, like India, has shown deep concern about China’s growing maritime power in the Indo-Pacific over the past few years. The two countries have maritime territorial disputes, which have at times triggered diplomatic clashes.