Navy takes delivery of first Project 17A frigate Himgiri from GRSE

The Indian Navy on Thursday received the advanced guided-missile frigate Himgiri built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

The Navy called it a major milestone in achieving self-reliance in warship design and construction. Himgiri (Yard 3022), the third ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A). The Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms, designed to address current and future challenges in the maritime domain.

According to the Navy, Himgiri is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate, that was decommissioned on May 6, 2025, after 30 years of glorious service to the nation.

Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata), the ship is modular, ergonomic and built within the envisaged timelines.

Launched on December 14, 2020, Himgiri is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, along with Barak 8 anti-aircraft missiles, representing a major leap in naval strike and defensive capabilities. With high indigenous content, the ship stands as a strong symbol of India’s self-reliance in defence production.

The frigate is powered by a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines and equipped with advanced AESA radar and modern combat systems. It is capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare operations. The platform offers advanced survivability and improved operational capabilities.

Himgiri also features comfortable accommodation for 225 personnel and provides full aviation facilities for operation of helicopters onboard the vessel.

Currently, GRSE is working on 15 warships across four different classes for the Navy.

With an indigenous content of 75%, the project has involved over 200 MSMEs at GRSE and enabled generation of employment for approximately 4,000 personnel directly and more than 10,000 personnel indirectly.