New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant boost to India’s maritime security and indigenous shipbuilding capabilities, the Indian Navy on Monday, March 30, 2026, took delivery of three frontline naval platforms. The warships— ‘Dunagiri’, ‘Sanshodhak’, and ‘Agray’—were delivered by the public sector shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) at a ceremony in Kolkata. These vessels will now undergo the final integration of advanced weaponry and communication suites before their formal commissioning into active service.
The most prominent of the trio, ‘Dunagiri’, is the fifth frigate of the P-17A Nilgiri Class. Designed as a stealthy, multi-mission platform, it features a formidable weapon suite including supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM), Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM), and a 76 mm main gun. The delivery follows successful sea trials that validated the frigate’s hull and machinery. Notably, the Navy is also preparing for the commissioning of ‘Taragiri’, the fourth ship in this class, scheduled for April 3, 2026.
Joining the fleet alongside the frigate are ‘Sanshodhak’ and ‘Agray’, which serve specialised operational roles. ‘Sanshodhak’ is a Survey Vessel Large (SVL) equipped with cutting-edge hydrographic sensors for both coastal and deep-ocean mapping. ‘Agray’, the fourth of the Arnala Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), is designed specifically for detecting and neutralizing underwater threats in littoral waters. These deliveries underscore the accelerating pace of the Navy’s modernization program and its reliance on domestic defense manufacturing.
