The Indian Navy is set to expand its fleet significantly this month with the induction of five indigenously-built naval platforms. These include two Project 17A stealth frigates, a survey vessel, and two anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. The move underscores India's growing capability to design and construct sophisticated naval assets domestically, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Indigenous Warships to Enhance Combat Readiness
The made-in-India vessels will bolster maritime security, combat readiness, and coastal defence. Four of the five platforms have been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The fifth, INS Mahendragiri, has been constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
Key Vessels Joining the Fleet
Once formally commissioned, the stealth frigates INS Dunagiri and INS Mahendragiri, survey vessel Sanshodhak, and anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft Agray and Malvan will provide the Navy with advanced stealth, superior anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, and enhanced ocean surveillance.
INS Dunagiri is a Project 17A stealth frigate built by GRSE, equipped with modern sensors, sophisticated weapon systems, and network-centric warfare features. INS Mahendragiri is another Project 17A stealth frigate. Both represent a new generation of indigenous warships aimed at boosting India's maritime power, combat reach, and blue-water capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
Advanced Weaponry and Systems
Both frigates will be armed with supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, Barak-8 surface-to-air missile systems, powerful MF-STAR AESA radar for early threat detection, and modern torpedo tubes and rocket launchers.
The Survey Vessel (Large) Sanshodhak is designed for advanced hydrographic surveys and seabed mapping, playing a key role in underwater exploration and maritime domain awareness. Agray and Malvan are anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft specifically designed to identify, monitor, and neutralise hostile submarines in shallow coastal waters.
Fleet Expansion Plans
The Indian Navy currently operates around 130 to 140 vessels and is adding indigenous warships or submarines every 40 days. The proposed expansion is part of the government's vision to build a strong Navy with 200 warships and submarines by 2035. These new inductions will help the Navy increase its maritime footprint and establish dominance in the Indian Ocean Region amid the growing presence of the Chinese Navy.
