New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has installed a 20-metre-long scale model of the Indian Navy’s Project 17A (Himgiri Class) advanced guided-missile frigate at the City Side of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in indigenous warship construction.
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Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the weatherproof model in the presence of GRSE Chairman and Managing Director PR Hari, Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel) P Sunilkumar and NSCBI Airport Director Vikram Singh, among other senior officials of GRSE and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The non-commercial installation, designed, installed and maintained by GRSE, is intended to showcase India’s defence manufacturing capabilities and the role of indigenous technology in strengthening maritime self-reliance. Located at one of eastern India’s busiest international gateways, the model is expected to provide domestic and international passengers with a visible representation of India’s naval shipbuilding capabilities.
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The Project 17A frigates are designed for multi-mission operations, including anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The 149-metre-long warships, with a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes, incorporate advanced weapons, sensors, stealth features and automation. They are powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.
GRSE is executing three Project 17A frigates. The first ship, Himgiri, was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 31, 2025, while the second, Dunagiri, was delivered on March 30, 2026, and commissioned into service on June 21, 2026. The third frigate, Vindhyagiri, is currently under advanced-stage construction at the Kolkata-based shipyard.
GRSE, a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has built and delivered 118 warships to date, including 80 for the Indian Navy. The shipyard is currently constructing one Project 17A frigate, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts, four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, besides commercial and export vessels.
The airport installation comes as part of GRSE’s public-engagement efforts to showcase the country’s progress in indigenous warship design and construction and reinforce the broader objective of defence self-reliance.
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