India’s Navy commissioned three combatant platforms into service on 15 January, in a first for the service. INS NILGIRI, the lead ship of the PROJECT 17A stealth frigate class; INS SURAT, the fourth and final ship of the PROJECT 15B stealth destroyer class; and INS VAGSHEER, the sixth and final SCORPENE-class submarine were all commissioned together at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in the presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All three platforms have been designed and constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, with INS VAGSHEER manufactured under license from the French shipbuilder Naval Group. The two warships were designed by the navy’s Warship Design Bureau.

INS NILGIRI, the lead ship of PROJECT 17A, which incorporates significant stealth features and has a reduced radar signature, is a major advancement over the navy’s current SHIVALIK-class frigates.

The PROJECT 15B destroyer INS SURAT is the last of the follow-on class to the navy’s PROJECT 15A (KOLKATA-class) destroyers. The warship follows in the wake of her predecessors INS VISAKHAPATNAM, INS MORMUGAO and INS IMPHAL which were commissioned into service in the past 3 years.

India’s indigenous destroyer building project commenced with the building of 3 DELHI class warships (PROJECT 15) between 1997-2001, followed by 3 KOLKHATA class warships (PROJECT 15A) between 2014-2016 and finally the construction of four VISAKHAPATNAM class warships (PROJECT 15B) from 2021-2024. The guided missile destroyer INS SURAT features a displacement of 7,400 tons and has an overall length of 164 meters. It is equipped with a suite of sensors and weapons including MF-STAR (Multi-Function Surveillance Track and Guidance Radar), advanced network-centric capabilities, state-of-the-art radars, advanced sonar systems, electronic warfare systems, 16 BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missiles, 32 BARAK-8 / MRSAM (Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles), 4 AK-630M CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), 2 L&T twin torpedo launchers, 2 L&T Indigenous Rocket Launchers for ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) rockets, 76mm SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount), AI-enabled solutions, Rail-Less Helicopter Traversing System, Visual Aid and Landing System. 

The ship is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set and achieved speeds in excess of 30 knots during her sea trials. The warship was delivered to the Indian Navy in 31 months (launch to delivery), making her the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built.

INS NILGIRI is first among the 7 P17A frigates under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata. These warships are being built using an ‘Integrated Construction’ philosophy, which involves extensive pre-outfitting at the Block stages to reduce the overall build periods. INS NILGIRI is powered by two Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main propulsion plants, each comprising a Diesel Engine and Gas Turbine, driving a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP).

She is equipped with EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, Indra LTR-25 'LANZA' surface-search radar, Navigation radar, BEL HUMSA-NG hull-mounted sonar, SHAKTI electronic warfare suite, Advanced combat management system (CMS-17A), 8 BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missiles, 32 BARAK-8 / MRSAM, 76mm Leonardo STRALES gun, 2 30mm AK-630M anti-aircraft artillery systems, 2 triple-tube lightweight torpedo launchers, 2 RBU-6000 (RPK-8) anti-submarine rocket launchers, 2 anti-torpedo decoy systems, 2 decoy launchers, flight deck and enclosed hangar for one multi-role helicopter.

The other six ships of the class are expected to be delivered to the navy in 2025 and 2026. The INS NILGIRI and INS SURAT both feature a Rail-less Helicopter Handling system, a Visual Aid and Landing System and can embark a range of helicopters, including the CHETAK, ALH, SEA KING, and the newly inducted MH-60R, during both day and night operations.

INS VAGSHEER is built under the PROJECT 75 KALVARI-class programme. Her sister submarines, INS KALVARI, INS KHANDERI, INS KARANJ, INS VELA, and INS VAGIR, were commissioned into service in December 2017, September 2019, March 2021, November 2021 and January 2023 respectively. India is now looking to build another 3 SCORPENE submarines in India with the integration of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology.

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