KOLKATA — In a major public engagement initiative promoting defense self-reliance, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar inaugurated a 20-meter scale model of the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) advanced stealth frigate at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport.
Installed on the city-side exterior of the terminal building, the weatherproof model was fully designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to showcase indigenous naval engineering capabilities.
Project 17A Frigate Program Highlights
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Vessel Class: Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate
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Dimensions & Displacement: 149 meters length; ~6,670 tonnes displacement
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Propulsion System: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) configuration
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Multi-Mission Capabilities: Integrated anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare suites with advanced stealth features
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Delivery Status at GRSE:
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Himgiri: Delivered to the Indian Navy on July 31, 2025
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Dunagiri: Delivered on March 30, 2026; commissioned into service on June 21, 2026
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Vindhyagiri: Currently under advanced construction at the Kolkata shipyard
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Shipyard Track Record
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Total Deliveries: 118 warships delivered to armed forces—the highest by any domestic shipyard
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Naval Fleet Contribution: 80 warships constructed specifically for the Indian Navy
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Active Order Book: Under-construction platforms include Project 17A stealth frigates, Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs), Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), and commercial/export vessels
