Indian Navy receives indigenous stealth frigate Dunagiri from GRSE
New Delhi, March 31. The Indian Navy on March 30 took delivery of Dunagiri, the fifth warship under the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) programme and the second of the class constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd in Kolkata. The induction marks another significant milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in advanced warship design and construction.
A modern reincarnation of the original INS Dunagiri, which served the Navy for over three decades from 1977 to 2010, the new Dunagiri represents a major technological leap in stealth, firepower, automation and survivability. The frigate is part of the Navy’s Project 17A initiative, a follow-on to the Shivalik-class frigate, and is designed to meet both present and emerging maritime security challenges.
The ship has been designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team in Kolkata. Built using the philosophy of integrated construction, Dunagiri was completed within the planned schedule, benefiting from lessons learned during the construction of earlier ships in the class.
Compared to the earlier Shivalik-class, the Project 17A frigates carry a significantly enhanced suite of weapons and sensors. Dunagiri is equipped with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, the MF-STAR radar system, the MRSAM air defence complex, a 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, and close-in weapon systems comprising 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns. It also features rockets and torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare.
The frigate operates on a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, with diesel engines and gas turbines driving controllable pitch propellers on each shaft. It is further supported by a modern Integrated Platform Management System that enhances automation and operational efficiency.
Dunagiri is the fifth Project 17A frigate to be delivered to the Navy in the past 16 months. Drawing on experience from earlier vessels, the ship’s construction timeline was reduced to 80 months, compared to 93 months for the lead ship of the class, Nilgiri.
With an indigenous content of around 75 percent, the project has engaged more than 200 MSMEs and generated employment for approximately 4,000 people directly and over 10,000 indirectly. The delivery of Dunagiri underlines India’s growing expertise in complex warship design, engineering and shipbuilding, reinforcing the Navy’s commitment to ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance).
