India Strengthens Naval Capabilities with Three Newly Commissioned Domestically Built Warships

Summary

India has commissioned three domestically constructed naval vessels — the stealth frigate Dunagiri, the anti-submarine warfare craft Agray, and the survey ship Sanshodhak — as part of its broader naval modernization and self-reliance initiative. The Dunagiri, the most prominent of the three, is a 149-meter, 6,600-tonne multi-role stealth frigate equipped with Brahmos cruise missiles, Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, and advanced radar systems, representing the fifth vessel in its class of guided-missile frigates. The Agray anti-submarine warfare vessel addresses growing concerns about increased submarine activity by China and other nations in the Indian Ocean region, while the Sanshodhak will support hydrographic surveys of coastal waters. All three ships were built by state-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata with approximately 75-80% domestic content, reflecting India's push to reduce its heavy dependence on defense imports. However, analysts note that India still relies on foreign suppliers for critical technologies such as propulsion systems and key weapons systems, with the Dunagiri's engines sourced from GE and its guns developed through Italian collaboration.