According to the Times of India, the Indian Navy strengthened its blue-water capabilities when it received Himgiri, a 6,670-ton indigenous stealth frigate constructed in Kolkata by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
This is the second battleship of this type to be turned over in July; the first was Udaygiri from Mazagon Docks (MDL) on July 1.
The commissioning of both frigates, which are a part of the Rs 45,000 crore seven-vessel Project-17A, is scheduled for late August.
For air defence against aircraft, drones, and missiles, Himgiri, the third frigate in the series, is 149 meters long and outfitted with cutting-edge sensors and armaments, such as Israeli-made Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles with a 450-kilometer range.
These multi-role frigates, which represent India’s drive for independence in defence manufacture, are built to combat present and future maritime threats with improved stealth, firepower, and automation.
INS Nilgiri, the Navy’s first Project-17A frigate, went into service in January. The other four are anticipated to follow by the end of 2026.
India’s maritime security is strengthened by the frigates’ sophisticated design, which an officer described as a “quantum leap” in naval technology.
The 140-warship Navy is increasing to meet strategic challenges, especially those arising from the burgeoning maritime partnership between China and Pakistan, with 58 ships now being built in Indian shipyards for more than Rs 1.2 lakh crore and 31 more planned.
The latter’s substantial advances into the Indian Ocean Region with its fleet of 370 warships highlight the necessity of India’s strong naval expansion.