Indian Navy's Indigenous Warship Commissioning and Capabilities
The Indian Navy commissioned four indigenous warships within one month in 2026, significantly enhancing India's maritime security capabilities. On 21 June 2026, three vessels were commissioned simultaneously in Kolkata: INS Dunagiri (Nilgiri-class stealth frigate), INS Sanshodhak (Sandhayak-class survey vessel), and INS Agray (Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare craft). On 11 July 2026, INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, was commissioned at Visakhapatnam. All vessels were designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Indian shipyards, demonstrating India's growing indigenous defense manufacturing capability.
Warship Specifications and Capabilities
The Nilgiri-class stealth frigates under Project 17A measure approximately 149 meters long with a displacement of 6,670 tonnes. They feature a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system achieving maximum speeds of 28 knots (approximately 51.8 km/h). These multi-mission frigates are equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles (including Brahmos), medium-range air-defense missiles, close-in guns, advanced radar systems, hull-mounted sonar, and helicopter operations capability. The class includes seven vessels: INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Taragiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Dunagiri, INS Mahendragiri, and the under-construction Vindhyagiri.
The Sandhayak-class survey vessels measure approximately 110 meters long with a displacement of 3,400 tonnes. They achieve speeds over 18 knots with an operational range of 6,500 nautical miles and carry a crew of 178 personnel. These vessels are equipped with multi-beam echo sounders, side-scan sonar, and autonomous underwater vehicles for detailed seabed mapping and nautical chart production. Between 2019-2024, Indian hydrographers surveyed 89,000 square kilometers and produced 96 charts.
The Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts measure approximately 77.6 meters long with a displacement of 900 tonnes. They utilize waterjet propulsion for enhanced agility in shallow waters, achieving speeds of about 25 knots. These vessels are armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets, supported by shallow-water sonar and combat management systems. INS Arnala represents the largest waterjet-propelled warship in the Indian Navy.
Strategic Impact and Economic Contributions
The indigenous warship program achieves 75% indigenous content for Project 17A frigates and over 80% for Sandhayak-class survey vessels. Currently, 64 of 66 ships and submarines on order are being built in India. The Project 17A frigate program engaged over 200 MSMEs and created approximately 4,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect jobs. India's defense exports reached a record ₹23,622 crore in FY2024-25, representing a 12% increase from the previous year's ₹21,083 crore.
These vessels support multiple national strategic objectives including the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision launched in 2015 and the expanded MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision launched in 2025. The Blue Economy contributes approximately 4% to India's GDP, supported by the hydrographic capabilities of the survey vessels. The Indian Navy safeguards India's 11,098-kilometer coastline, 2.4 million square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone, and protects sea lanes carrying nearly 90% of India's trade by volume.