**Executive Summary**
On 30 March 2026, the indigenous stealth frigate ‘Dunagiri’ (Yard 3023) was delivered to the Indian Navy at Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata. As the fifth ship of the Nilgiri Class (Project 17A), its delivery marks a milestone in India's "Aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) goals, featuring 75% indigenous content and a compressed build period of 80 months. The vessel is designed as a multi-mission platform to address contemporary and future maritime challenges.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Project Overview and Delivery**
* **Vessel Identification:** 'Dunagiri' is the fifth ship of the Project 17A Nilgiri Class and the second built by GRSE.
* **Historical Significance:** The ship is a reincarnation of the Leander-class frigate INS Dunagiri, which served the Indian Navy from 1977 to 2010.
* **Design and Oversight:** The frigate was designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team in Kolkata.
* **Construction Efficiency:** Utilizing the "Integrated Construction" philosophy, the build time was reduced to 80 months, compared to the 93 months required for the first ship of the class.
**Technical and Combat Capabilities**
* **Propulsion:** The ship features a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) plant, driving Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) and managed by an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
* **Weaponry:** Equipped with a BrahMos SSM, MFSTAR and MRSAM complex, 76mm SRGM, and close-in weapon systems (30 mm and 12.7 mm).
* **Anti-Submarine Warfare:** The suite includes specialized rockets and torpedoes for sub-surface combat.
* **Design Leap:** Compared to the P17 (Shivalik) class, the P17A offers a "quantum leap" in stealth, automation, and survivability.
**Indigenisation and Economic Impact**
* **Domestic Content:** The project achieved 75% indigenisation content.
* **Supply Chain:** Over 200 MSMEs were involved in the construction process.
* **Employment:** The project generated approximately 4,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect employment opportunities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Navy**
**Impact**
The Navy receives a state-of-the-art, multi-mission stealth platform with enhanced firepower and survivability to address maritime domain challenges.
**Action Required**
The Navy must integrate the vessel into its fleet operations to utilize its advanced sensor and weapon suites for national defense.
**Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers Ltd (GRSE)**
**Impact**
The delivery validates GRSE's engineering prowess and capability to meet envisaged timelines through integrated construction methods.
**Action Required**
GRSE must continue to leverage the experiences gained from this build to maintain or further compress construction timelines for future vessels.
**MSMEs and National Workforce**
**Impact**
Over 200 MSMEs and 14,000 personnel (direct and indirect) benefited from the project’s high indigenisation requirements and employment generation.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders in the domestic supply chain must remain aligned with the Navy's focus on self-reliance to secure future shipbuilding contracts.
Key Entities Referenced
Project 17A: The indigenous program under which stealth frigates, including the Nilgiri Class, are being constructed for the Indian Navy.
Indian Navy: The primary military branch and end-user receiving the stealth frigate 'Dunagiri' to boost maritime defense capabilities.
Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers Ltd (GRSE): The defense public sector undertaking responsible for the construction and delivery of the Dunagiri frigate in Kolkata.
Warship Design Bureau (WDB): The agency responsible for the indigenous design of the P17A frigates, marking a leap in naval engineering and stealth technology.
Dunagiri: The fifth stealth frigate of the Nilgiri Class delivered to the Indian Navy, representing a milestone in self-reliant warship building.
Ministry of Defence
INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE ‘DUNAGIRI’
DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY – A MAJOR
BOOST TO AATMANIRBHARTA IN WARSHIP
BUILDING
INDIAN NAVY RECEIVES INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE
‘DUNAGIRI’ UNDER PROJECT 17A AT GRSE, KOLKATA
Posted On: 31 MAR 2026 9:12AM by PIB Delhi
Dunagiri (Yard 3023), the fifth ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A) and second of the class built at
Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 Mar
2026 at GRSE, Kolkata, marking a major milestone in achieving self-reliance in warship design and
construction. Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms, designed to address current and
future challenges in the maritime domain.
Dunagiri is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Dunagiri, a Leander-class frigate, that was part of
the Indian Navy fleet from 05 May 1977 to 10 Oct 2010, rendering 33 years of glorious service to the
nation. This state-of-the-art frigate reflects a quantum leap in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation
and survivability and is an admirable symbol of Aatmanirbharta in warship building.
Designed by Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata), P17A
frigates reflect a generational leap in indigenous ship design, stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
Driven by the philosophy of Integrated Construction, the ship was built and delivered in envisaged
timeline.
P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite compared to the P17 (Shivalik)
class. These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising
a diesel engine and a gas turbine that drive a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and
state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The potent weapons and sensors
suite comprises of BrahMos SSM, MFSTAR and MRSAM complex, 76mm SRGM, and a combination of
30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon system, along with rocket and torpedoes for anti- submarine
warfare.
Dunagiri is the fifth P17A ship getting delivered to the Indian Navy in the last 16 months. The experiences
gained from construction of the first four P17A ships have enabled compressing of build period of
Dunagiri to 80 months, in comparison to 93 months taken for first of class (Nilgiri).
Delivery of Dunagiri showcases the design, ship construction and engineering prowess of nation, and
reflects the Navy’s unrelenting focus on Aatmanirbharta in both ship design and shipbuilding.With an indigenisation content of 75%, the project has involved over 200 MSMEs and has enabled
employment generation of approximately 4,000 personnel directly and more than 10,000 personnel
indirectly.
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