The Indian Navy commissioned the Nilgiri-class frigate INS Dunagiri, Survey Vessel (Large) INS Sanshodhak and ASW Shallow Water Craft INS Agray on June 21.
All three ships were designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed in Kolkata by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in January 2025, the Indian Navy had similarly inducted three vesselson the same day: frigate INS Nilgiri, destroyer INS Surat and Scorpene submarine INS Vaghsheer.
INS Dunagiri
The warship was delivered to the Navy on March 30, 2026 by GRSE. Dunagiri is the second Nilgiri class built by GRSE and the fifth Nilgiri-class frigate under Project 17A. Naval News has previously reported on the capabilities of the 6,700 ton Nilgiri class:
The P17A frigates incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuverability. However, the ships still feature non-stealthy Soviet era armament such as the L&T Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL), which is an Indian version of the RBU-6000 ASW rocket launcher as well as the AWEIL made AK-630 CIWS. The Nilgiri class is designed to feature the following armament: eight BrahMossupersonic cruise missiles, 32 MRSAM, torpedoes, AK-630, IRL, Kavach chaff launchers and a 76mm gun. The sensor suite includes a hull mounted sonar, Elta MFSTAR AESA primary radar, Indra Lanza-N 3D surveillance radar, navigation radar, EW suite and more. The class can be expected to be equipped with weapons like the VL-SRSAM and LRLACM in the future.
The warship uses CODOG propulsion and uses LM2500 gas turbines. The last two frigates of the class are also expected to be inducted in 2026. WHile the initial delivery of the lead ship Nilgiri saw delays, the remaining ships have been delivered at a rapid pace. India is also working on a follow-on class of ships known as Project 17B.
INS Sanshodhak
INS Sanshodhak is the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) class ship and was delivered to the Navy on March 31, 2026. It is equipped with advanced hydrographic and oceanographic systems and four Survey Motor Boats. These systems provide highly precise hydrographic data, enabling the sustainable utilisation of ocean resources, a press release stated adding that Sanshodhak is fitted with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment such as Data Acquisition and Processing System, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle, DGPS long-range positioning systems, and Digital Side Scan Sonar. The class has a displacement of 3400 tons and is 110m long. The ship has twin engine diesel propulsion and can be configured as a hospital ship. For survey operations, the vessel has the Kongsberg Discovery HUGIN AUV.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) is the lowest bidder for the Next Generation Survey Vessel project which consists of five vessels, featuring improvements over the SVL class.
INS Agray
The fifth in a series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), Agray is equipped with advanced sonars, Torpedoes, Anti-Submarine Rockets and a Combat Management System. The waterjet propelled craft belongs to the Arnala-class of eight ships by GRSE. The ASW SWC project involves another eight ships by CSL under the Mahe-class. Agray is the fourth ASW SWC by GRSE.
