At the GRSE site on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, President Droupadi Murmu launched INS Vindhyagiri, a sophisticated stealth frigate.
President Droupadi Murmu commissioned the sophisticated stealth frigate INS Vindhyagiri on Thursday at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) facility on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata.
The launch event was attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor SCV Ananda Bose, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, and other top officials.
INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth stealth frigate developed at the GRSE under Project 17A.
Following the launch, INS Vindhyagiri will join its two sister ships at the GRSE outfitting jetty to complete the remaining activities and equipment trials in preparation for their delivery and commissioning.
17A Project Frigates are the Project 17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates’ successors, with greater stealth, sophisticated weaponry and sensors, and platform management systems.
Seventeenth Project 17A Frigates are being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and GRSE in various phases.
According to Defence Ministry officials, the inauguration of INS Vindhyagiri would strengthen India’s defence industrial foundation by lowering the country’s dependency on foreign suppliers, boosting self-sufficiency, and cultivating a strong defence industry basis.
This is the third and last stealth frigate built for the Navy by the Kolkata-based warship manufacturer under the programme. The cutting-edge ship will be outfitted with the newest technology and put through intensive testing before being turned over to the Indian Navy for commissioning.
Over 75% of Project 17 A orders have been placed on indigenous enterprises, including MSMEs and auxiliary industries in the country, in line with the Narendra Modi-led union government’s ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India).
President Droupadi Murmu emphasised the importance of Vindhyagiri and hoped that as INS Vindhyagiri impacts the waters of the mighty Hooghly for the first time, it will draw strength from the very mountains it is named after, sailing with steadfast resolve and upholding the values we hold dear.
