Indian Navy Commissions 'Himgiri' Stealth Frigate on Thursday. Built by GRSE, this warship is part of Project 17A and will further strengthen the country's maritime security capabilities.
Himgiri Frigate: Further bolstering India's maritime security and strength, the Indian Navy commissioned another modern warship on Thursday. This multi-role stealth frigate, named 'Himgiri,' has been completely developed in India and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), based in Kolkata. This warship is one of the seven stealth warships being built under Project 17A.
Why is 'Himgiri' Special?
Himgiri is a state-of-the-art indigenous warship, equipped with the latest technology. It has a length of 149 meters and weighs approximately 6670 tons. This multi-role frigate is capable of dealing with threats from the air, water, and surface. Its design is such that it is not easily detectable by radar, making it a 'stealth' warship.
Completely Indigenous Construction
Himgiri has been built under the Make in India initiative, which not only enhances the Navy's strength but is also considered a b step towards the country's self-reliance. Indian engineers and technical experts have played a significant role in the design and construction of this warship.
Project 17A: India's Ambitious Naval Program
Project 17A is a major ship-building program of the Indian Navy, under which a total of seven stealth frigates are being built. Of these, four are being built at Mazagon Docks (MDL) in Mumbai and three at GRSE in Kolkata. The total cost of this project is approximately ₹45,000 crore.
Prior to this, INS Nilgiri was inducted into the Indian Navy in January 2024 under Project 17A. 'Udaygiri', built in Mumbai, was also handed over to the Navy on July 1st. Now, with the inclusion of 'Himgiri', this series has been further advanced. All these frigates are planned to be inducted into the Navy by the end of August 2025.
Equipped with State-of-the-Art Technologies
Warships like Himgiri are designed in such a way that they can carry out multiple operations simultaneously. These include anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare. The technologies installed in it protect it from the enemy's eye and also provide the ability to remain active on multiple fronts during wartime.
Another Step Towards Self-Reliant India
This frigate has been completely built in India, which further strengthens the Self-Reliant India campaign. Not only the warship but also most of the technology and equipment used in it are indigenous. This is a living proof of India's defense production capabilities.
Stealth frigates like Himgiri not only provide military strength to the Navy at sea but also give a strategic advantage. Through such warships, India can carry out the surveillance, patrolling, and defense of maritime borders more effectively.
