President Murmu to launch Vindhyagiri, the sixth stealth frigate that will beef up India’s naval heft

President Droupadi Murmu will launch Vindhyagiri – the sixth ship of project 17A of Indian Navy – at Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited (GRSE) during her visit to Kolkata, on Thursday.

Of the seven frigates being constructed under the Nilgiri-class frigate or Project 17A, four are being constructed at Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three in GRSE with MDL as lead yard.

The P17A class frigates are being built using indigenously developed steel and fitted with weapons and sensors along with Integrated Platform Management System.

The construction of these vessels is a major boost for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ commitment with orders for equipment and systems on indigenous firms including MSMEs amounting to indigenous content to the order of 75% which is a notch above its predecessors P17 Shivalik class ships.

According to the Ministry of Defence, construction of P17A ships differ in the very concept of warship building by way of adoption of the modern technology ‘Integrated Construction (IC)’ where the blocks are pre-outfitted before joining to reduce the build period of warships. When commissioned, the platforms will enhance the combat capability of the Indian naval fleet.

“Indigenous construction of complex frontline ships such as Stealth Frigates has catapulted the nation to a higher pedestal in the arena of shipbuilding. It provides additional benefits such as economic development, employment generation for Indian shipyards, their sub-contractors and ancillary industry,” the ministry stated at the launch Taragiri – the fifth Stealth Frigate of P17A – last September.

The indigenously designed stealth frigate have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world class modular living spaces, sophisticated power distribution system and a host of other advanced features.

They are also being fitted with supersonic surface-to-surface missile system and have air defence capability designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles.

Two 30 mm rapid-fire guns provide the ship with close-in-defence capability while an SRGM Gun will enable the ship to provide effective naval gunfire support. Indigenously developed triple tube light weight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers also add punch to the ship’s anti-submarine capability.

The Ministry of Steel stated on Wednesday that the entire 4000 tonnes special steel for indigenous frigate ship Vindhyagiri has been supplied by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

SAIL believes that its involvement in the ambitious project further exemplifies the company’s steadfast dedication to foster indigenous growth and innovation in India’s defence sector.

The steel supplied for Vindhyagiri frigate comprises DMR 249 A grade HR sheets and plates.

The significant milestone also comes on the heels of SAIL’s remarkable contribution to the commissioning of INS Vikrant, the nation’s pride and joy, where SAIL has provided the entire 30,000 tonnes of specialty steel for the construction of the aircraft carrier.

Following the launch, Vindhyagiri will join its sister ships for outfitting activities towards the run up for their delivery to Indian Navy.