Kolkata, Aug 17: Kolkata witnessed a momentous occasion as President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated an advanced naval stealth frigate named ‘Vindhyagiri’ for the Indian Navy. This significant event, held at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd’s (GRSE) facility along the Hooghly river, marks a major step in enhancing India’s maritime capabilities.
Welcomed by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose upon her arrival, President Murmu unveiled the newly christened frigate. The ‘Vindhyagiri’ is the sixth vessel out of seven that comprise ‘Project 17 Alpha,’ aimed at bolstering the Navy’s fleet. Notably, the initial five ships of the project were introduced between 2019 and 2022.
The ‘Vindhyagiri’ holds special significance as the third and final stealth frigate constructed by the Kolkata-based shipbuilder under the project. Impressively, nearly 75% of the orders, especially for equipment and systems, have originated from domestic defense firms, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Adorned with cutting-edge technology and equipment, the state-of-the-art vessel will undergo rigorous testing before being commissioned into service by the Indian Navy. The guided missile frigates, known as P17A ships, boast impressive specifications with a length of 149 meters, a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes, and a top speed of 28 knots. These ships are designed to address threats across air, surface, and sub-surface domains.
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The name ‘Vindhyagiri’ pays homage to a mountain range in Karnataka, and its design showcases ash, black, and red colors, reflecting the in-house design approach of the Indian Navy’s warship design bureau, similar to other P17A stealth frigates.
The Navy underscores that ‘Vindhyagiri,’ a vessel of advanced technology, pays tribute to its predecessor, INS Vindhyagiri, a Leander Class ASW Frigate, which served the nation for 31 years until June 2012.
A pivotal aspect of this development is the overarching ‘Project 17 Alpha.’ This initiative involves constructing Vindhyagiri and five other follow-on ships derived from the Project 17 Class Frigates Shivalik Class. These warships boast enhanced stealth features, advanced weaponry, sensors, and platform management systems.
The P17A program is a collaborative effort between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders (MDL) Ltd. In total, three ships from GRSE and four from MDL are at different stages of construction for the Indian Navy. ‘Vindhyagiri’ represents the final vessel being built by GRSE under this framework.
As India strengthens its naval capabilities, the concept of stealth plays a pivotal role. Stealth technology and construction techniques are employed to render ships harder to detect via radars, visual methods, sonar, and infrared technologies.
India’s focus on maritime strength is a response to the challenges posed by an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region. While diplomatic tensions continue along land borders, China’s expansionist ambitions extend to the Indian Ocean. China, with its formidable navy of 355 warships and submarines, actively supports Pakistan in building a potent maritime force to challenge India’s position in the Arabian Sea.
In response, India demonstrates its power projection capabilities by deploying aircraft carriers, numerous warships, submarines, and over 35 aircraft in the region. This strategic move reinforces India’s naval prowess as it navigates challenges posed by an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.
