New Delhi, Mar 31 (NVI): The Indian Navy on Tuesday received the indigenously built stealth frigate ‘Dunagiri’, a major milestone in the country’s push for self-reliance in warship design and construction.
The warship, built under Project 17A, was delivered at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata on March 30, officials said.
‘Dunagiri’ is the fifth ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates and the second of the class constructed at GRSE. The project represents a significant advancement over the earlier Shivalik-class frigates, featuring enhanced stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
Officials said the frigate is equipped with advanced weapons and sensor systems, including BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, MF-STAR radar, and a medium-range surface-to-air missile system. It also has a 76 mm main gun, close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities such as torpedoes and rockets.
Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the vessel incorporates integrated construction techniques and modern propulsion systems, including a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) configuration.
The new frigate is a reincarnation of the earlier INS Dunagiri, a Leander-class ship that served the Navy for over three decades before being decommissioned in 2010.
According to officials, the ship has an indigenous content of around 75 per cent and the project has involved over 200 MSMEs, generating employment for thousands of people.
The induction of ‘Dunagiri’ is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities while reinforcing the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in the defence sector.(NVI)
