3 indigenous naval vessels to be launched by PM tomorrow, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission three indigenously-built Indian Navy frontline platforms.
• The vessels are Dunagiri (stealth frigate), Sanshodhak (survey vessel), and Agray (anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft).
• The commissioning ceremony will take place at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
• These platforms were designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• The vessels feature over 75% indigenous content, significantly boosting India’s maritime capabilities and self-reliance.

Detailed Insights:

• Dunagiri is the fifth Project 17A stealth frigate, equipped with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles and a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile system, enhancing combat capabilities.
• Sanshodhak is the fourth Survey Vessel (Large), designed for hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, utilizing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles.
• Agray is the fourth Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, fitted with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers, and shallow-water sonar for detecting underwater threats.
• The commissioning reflects a balanced approach to force development, strengthening blue-water operations, maritime domain awareness, and coastal security.
• GRSE, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, is a premier Indian defense shipyard that has built over 100 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
• The Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau is crucial for India's self-reliance in warship design, having designed numerous naval vessels.
• Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, formerly Kolkata Port, is India's only riverine major port and the oldest operating port, vital for domestic and international freight.
• The high indigenous content aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, involving over 200 MSMEs and generating employment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Indigenous Shipbuilding: The domestic design and construction of naval vessels, crucial for national security and self-reliance.
• Project 17A: A class of advanced stealth guided-missile frigates for the Indian Navy, emphasizing indigenous design and construction.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A policy vision by the Government of India to make the country self-reliant across various sectors, including defense.
• Warship Design Bureau: The Indian Navy's in-house design organization responsible for the conceptualization and design of naval vessels.