President Launches INS Vindhyagiri
- 20 Aug 2023
On 17th August, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated INS Vindhyagiri, the sixth stealth frigate constructed under the Indian Navy's Project 17A. The launch took place at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on the banks of the Hoogly River in Kolkata.
Key Points:
- Name and Features of INS Vindhyagiri: INS Vindhyagiri derives its name from the mountain range in Karnataka.
- The warship is equipped with advanced stealth features, cutting-edge weaponry, and state-of-the-art sensors.
- Project 17A Overview: Project 17A aims to construct a total of seven warships, with four being built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and three by GRSE.
- The first five ships of the project were already launched by MDL and GRSE between 2019 and 2022.
- A Tribute to Its Predecessor: INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth warship of the Project 17A Frigates, paying tribute to its predecessor, the erstwhile INS Vindhyagiri, which served as a Leander Class ASW Frigate for nearly 31 years from July 8, 1981, to June 11, 2012.
- Symbol of India's Naval Heritage and Self-Reliance: The newly launched INS Vindhyagiri symbolizes India's commitment to embracing its rich naval heritage while advancing towards a future of indigenous defense capabilities.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative: Project 17A aligns with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) initiative, with approximately 75 percent of the equipment and systems orders for Project 17A being sourced from indigenous firms, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
