The Navy’s Project 17A frigate ‘Vindhyogiri’ will be launched on August 17 at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.Vindhyagiri, named after a mountain range in Karnataka, is the sixth ship in the Project 17A frigates. These warships are Project 17 class frigates. which have better stealth features advanced weapon sensors and platform management systems.The first five ships of the project were launched between 2019-2022 by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers.Vindhyagiri The technologically advanced frigate pays homage to its predecessor INS Vindhyagiri.
INS Vindhyagiri
- During its nearly 31 years of service from 08 Jul 1981 to 11 Jun 2012, participated in many challenging operations and multinational exercises.
- Through which maritime surveillance, coastal patrolling and anti-piracy operations were carried out.
- It was decommissioned in 2011 after being damaged in an accident with a merchant vessel.
What is project 17a
- Project 17A was launched by the Indian Navy in 2019 to build a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.
- A total of four vessels are under construction by MDL and three by GRSE under the Project 17A programme.
- The Project 17A ships have been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
- In line with the country’s firm commitment to ‘Atmanirbharta’, 75% of orders for equipment and systems for Project 17A ships are from indigenous firms.
- The first stealth ship launched under this project in 2019 was Nilgiri.
Benefits of Project 17A
- These guided-missile frigates are built with a distinctive stealth design, have radar-absorbing coatings and are low-observable.
- May make its approach undesirable for enemies.
- Project 17A provides additional benefits such as economic development and employment generation for ancillary industries.
- A step towards self-reliant India.
- The indigenous construction of complex frontline ships in this project has taken the country to a higher pedestal in the field of shipbuilding.
- The newly-built ‘Vindhyagiri’ is a symbol of India’s determination to take forward its rich naval heritage. This is a fitting testimony to the incredible progress made by our nation in building a self-reliant naval force.