PM Modi commissions three GRSE-built warships into Indian Navy

Kolkata/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commissioned three warships built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) into the Indian Navy at Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in India's indigenous warship building programme.

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The three warships — INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray — were commissioned in the presence of West Bengal Governor R N Ravi, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and senior officials of the Indian Navy and GRSE.

The simultaneous commissioning of three major surface combatants built by a single shipyard is a first for India and underlines GRSE's growing capabilities in indigenous warship design and construction under the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

INS Dunagiri, the second Advanced Guided Missile Frigate under Project 17A built by GRSE, is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles along with advanced defence systems, enhancing the Navy's offensive and defensive capabilities.

INS Sanshodhak, the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) constructed by the shipyard, will strengthen the Navy's hydrographic and survey capabilities. The vessel will support maritime surveys, navigation channel mapping, oceanographic data collection and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

INS Agray, one of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts being built by GRSE, has been designed for coastal anti-submarine operations. The vessel is equipped with advanced combat management systems, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets and a 30 mm naval gun. The vessel has an indigenous content of around 88 percent.

With the delivery of the three warships, GRSE has built and delivered 118 warships, including 80 warships for the Indian Navy, the highest by any shipyard in the country.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the commissioning of the three vessels reflects India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He said the ships have been designed and built in India with the contribution of Indian industries, engineers and workers, which represents the strength of a new and self-reliant India.

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Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said that GRSE has remained a trusted partner of the Indian Navy in ensuring maritime security. He noted that the tri-commissioning demonstrates the country's expanding shipbuilding capacity, self-reliance and technological capabilities.

GRSE said it is aligning its growth strategy with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 through infrastructure modernisation, digitalisation, adoption of artificial intelligence and sustainable shipbuilding practices.

The defence PSU is currently constructing one Project 17A advanced frigate, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels. In addition, the shipyard is building 30 other vessels, including 13 export platforms, while also pursuing a contract for the construction of Next Generation Corvettes.

The company said that its frontline warships now incorporate more than 90 percent indigenous equipment, reinforcing India's emergence as a globally competitive maritime and shipbuilding nation.

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