INS Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, Agray: How the Indian Navy’s three new indigenous ships add diverse capabilities

In a solo ceremony held at Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port in Kolkata on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three indigenous warships to join the Indian Navy – a stealth guided missile frigate, a hydrographic survey ship and an anti-submarine warfare vehicle – marking what the government described as a milestone in the country’s push towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing.

The three ships, named INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray, were designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. Among those present were West Bengal Governor R N Ravi, Prime Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.

“[The three ships] It reflects India’s growing maritime capabilities, our commitment to protecting national interests overseas and the notable steps being taken towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing guided by India’s vision. Modi said in a post on X.

“No country can emerge as a major power without strong maritime capabilities. Development, security and prosperity are inextricably linked to the oceans. Most of the world’s trade moves through sea routes, while vast global data networks operate under the oceans,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying during the ceremony.

Modi, who was in the state to attend the Paschimbanga Divas celebrations the day before, used the occasion to signal a broader ambition, just weeks after the BJP finally won the state from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC. “West Bengal is poised to become a major hub for India’s blue economy, maritime manufacturing, logistics and coastal development,” he said.

Admiral Swaminathan said the trilateral commissioning, which comes just 17 months after India’s first simultaneous commissioning of three warships in Mumbai in January 2025, demonstrated that India’s “warship building capability is gaining new speed in modern technology, self-reliance and self-confidence”.

Dunagiri is equipped with advanced weapons and sensors, including BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles and a medium-range surface-to-air missile system, greatly enhancing the Navy’s combat capability, according to a report published by the British newspaper “Daily Mail”.Ministry of Defense press release. The vessel is propelled by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system, a propulsion arrangement that uses diesel engines for fuel-efficient cruising and switches to gas turbines for high-speed operations.

With a displacement of approximately 6,670 tons and a length of 149 metres, the ship bears the name of its predecessor – a Leander-class frigate, a type of British-designed steam warship widely used by many Cold War-era navies – which served in the Navy from 1977 to 2010.

The new ship’s motto in Sanskrit says “Victory is my profession.”

Dunagiri was delivered to the Navy in 80 months, compared to the 93 months it took for INS Nilgiri, the first of its kind, reflecting a compression in construction time as GRSE gained experience across the program, according to the ministry. The project included more than 200 small enterprises and created job opportunities for about 4,000 employees directly and more than 10,000 indirectly. “Designed and manufactured in India, these ships showcase the talent of Indian industries, the expertise of Indian engineers and the hard work of Indian workers,” Modi said. He said.

Two more Project 17A frigates – INS Mahendragiri and INS Vindhyagiri – are yet to be commissioned to complete the seven-ship series.

The ship carries autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), technical names for unmanned underwater machines used for surveying and inspection at depths beyond a diver’s reach. It also has multi-beam echo sounders and digital side-scan sonar systems, which help in detecting objects. Officials said its original content exceeds 80%. The previous three ships in the class, INS Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak, have already been inducted.

Modi noted that the commission took place on World Hydrographic Day.

“It is a remarkable coincidence that India’s most advanced hydrographic survey ship, INS Sanchodak, is commissioned on the same day,” he said.

In addition to its survey role, Sanchodak can also be deployed for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, according to the ministry. The ship’s motto in Sanskrit translates to: “Lead the way and rule the oceans.”

The Agray is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, home-made missile launchers and shallow water sonar systems to detect underwater threats and deal with them, PTI reported, citing the Defense Ministry. Aha.

The vessel is just over 77 meters long and has a displacement of 900 tons, and uses waterjet propulsion, a system that draws in and expels water under high pressure, reducing underwater noise and improving maneuverability compared to conventional propellers. This means it is suitable for the quiet and precise requirements of anti-submarine operations.

Its logo is inspired by the bow of Arjuna Gandeva, the legendary weapon associated with accuracy in Hindu mythology. The motto is: “First and foremost, victorious in battle.”

He said: “India seeks to become a producer and manufacturer, because countries that manufacture become decisive players on the global stage.” The Prime Minister noted that more than 40 indigenously built warships have been inducted into the Navy in recent years, with another 45 platforms currently under construction.