Indian Navy Receives P17A Frigate Dunagiri

Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigate, Dunagiri | Image: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has received the indigenous stealth frigate Dunagiri, the fifth ship of the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A. The vessel was delivered on March 30, 2026, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

Dunagiri is the second Project 17A frigate built at GRSE and follows four earlier ships delivered over the past 16 months. The vessel is named after the earlier INS Dunagiri, a Leander-class frigate that served in the Indian Navy from 1977 to 2010.

Project 17A frigates are designed as multi-mission platforms intended to address a range of maritime operational requirements. The ships are designed by the Warship Design Bureau and built under an integrated construction approach. According to the government, lessons from earlier ships have reduced the construction period of Dunagiri to 80 months, compared to 93 months for the first ship of the class.

The frigate is equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, using both diesel engines and gas turbines driving controllable pitch propellers. It also features an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for monitoring and control of onboard systems.

Its weapons and sensor suite includes BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, the MFSTAR radar, and the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system. The ship is also equipped with a 76 mm main gun, close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities including torpedoes and rockets.

The Project 17A programme has an indigenous content of about 75%. The construction of the ships has involved more than 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), supporting employment across the supply chain.

The delivery of Dunagiri marks another step in the ongoing induction of Project 17A frigates into the Indian Navy fleet, as part of efforts to expand domestic shipbuilding capability and naval force structure.