Two indigenous frontline warships built by the Indian Navy will be launched today at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai in the presence of Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, bolstering India’s already formidable maritime arsenal.
The frontline warships, dubbed “Surat” (Project 15B Destroyer) and “Udaygiri” (Project 17A Frigate), are “next generation stealth guided missile destroyers,” according to the defence ministry.
The Directorate of Naval Design (DND), which has been the fountainhead for all warship design activities of the nation, designed both the 15B and P17A ships in-house, according to the statement.
The ministry added that indigenous firms, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), received about 75% of the orders for equipment and systems for the warships, a “true testament of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
The destroyer ship ‘Surat’ is part of Project 15B and is one of India’s largest destroyers. The ship, named after Western India’s second-largest commercial hub, was built using block construction, which involves the hull being built in two different geographical locations before being assembled at Mazagon Docks Limited.
The third ship in Project 17A Frigates is the ‘Udaygiri’ (Frigate), named after the Andhra Pradesh mountain ranges. Advanced weapons, sensors, and platform management systems are included. This warship is the “reincarnation” of a previous edition of Udaygiri, which served for three decades, from 18 February 1976 to 24 August 2007, and saw numerous challenging operations.
According to the defence ministry, more than 50 ships and submarines are currently under construction, with the Indian Navy having about 150 ships and submarines. In December 2021, Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on ‘Atmanirbharta’ that India built all 28 ships and submarines commissioned into the Navy in the previous seven years. He also stated that 37 of the 39 naval vessels and ships currently under construction are being built in Indian shipyards.
