Why in the news
Three home-built warships joined the Indian Navy in a single ceremony at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, on 21 June 2026, the same day as World Hydrography Day. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan attended.
Key facts
- Tri-commissioning presided over by PM Narendra Modi; ships designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by GRSE.
- Indigenous content above 75%, with contributions from over 200 MSMEs; counted as an Aatmanirbhar Bharat milestone.
- Layered capability: blue-water combat (Dunagiri), deep-water survey (Sanshodhak), coastal anti-submarine warfare (Agray).
- Force accretion 2026: 19 warships planned; with 2025, 33 ships in 24 months.
- Maritime Vision 2030 aims at a Navy of 170+ warships.
The three ships compared
| Feature | INS Dunagiri | INS Sanshodhak | INS Agray |
|---|
| Type | Stealth guided-missile frigate | Survey Vessel (Large) | Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft |
| Class | Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) | Sandhayak-class | Arnala-class |
| Place in class | 5th of 7 P17A frigates | 4th and final | 4th built by GRSE; 5th ASW-SWC overall |
| Size | Not stated | About 110 m; 3,300-3,400 tonnes | About 77.6 m; 900 tonnes |
| Propulsion | CODOG (combined diesel or gas) | Not stated | Waterjet, for manoeuvrability and low noise |
| Indigenous content | About 75% | Not stated | Over 80% |
| Other | Build time 80 months versus 93 for INS Nilgiri | Range 6,500 nm; contract signed 2018 | Speed 25 knots; range 1,800 nm at 14 knots |
INS Dunagiri
- Successor design to the Shivalik-class (Project 17); second Project 17A ship built by GRSE.
- Weapons and sensors: BrahMos missiles, MRSAM air defence, MFSTAR radar, anti-submarine rockets, hull sonar, CIWS.
- Operates HAL Dhruv ALH and Sea King helicopters.
Project 17A family
| Ship | Builder | Status |
|---|
| INS Nilgiri | MDL | Commissioned Jan 2025 |
| INS Himgiri | GRSE | Commissioned |
| INS Udaygiri | MDL | Commissioned |
| INS Taragiri | MDL | Commissioned |
| INS Dunagiri | GRSE | Commissioned 21 June 2026 |
| INS Vindhyagiri | GRSE | Expected |
| INS Mahendragiri | MDL | Expected |
INS Sanshodhak
- Carries AUVs, ROVs, multi-beam echo sounders, digital side-scan sonar and four survey motor boats; can operate helicopters and be converted to a hospital ship.
- Roles: hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, geophysical data, nautical charts, port approach mapping, search and rescue, HADR; linked to Maritime Vision 2030 and the Blue Economy.
INS Agray
- Built by GRSE with L&T Kattupalli under a PPP; crest inspired by Arjuna’s Gandiva bow.
- Armament: RBU-6000 rocket launcher, 324 mm lightweight torpedoes, Abhay hull-mounted sonar (DRDO NPOL with BEL), towed low-frequency variable depth sonar, 30 mm gun, 12.7 mm remote gun, mine-laying rails.
ASW-SWC programme
- Approved by the DAC in 2013; cost about Rs.13,440 crore; 16 vessels, 8 each from GRSE and Cochin Shipyard.
- Replaces Abhay-class corvettes; Arnala-class (GRSE/L&T, Eastern Fleet) and Mahe-class (CSL, Western Fleet); lead ship INS Arnala, 2025.
Exam angle
- Venue and date: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, 21 June 2026.
- Project 17A: 7 stealth frigates costing about Rs.45,000 crore.
- Abbreviations: WDB, GRSE, CODOG, ASW-SWC, CSL, HADR.