All About INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak And INS Agray, The Indian Navy's Newest Warships

Last Updated:June 21, 2026, 12:01 IST

The Navy has termed the simultaneous induction a "tri-commissioning", highlighting the addition of three distinct capabilities to the fleet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commissioned three Indian Navy vessels in Kolkata, bringing into service platforms designed for blue-water operations, seabed mapping and coastal anti-submarine warfare.

The induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray continues a steady expansion of the Navy’s fleet. Since January 2025, more than a dozen platforms, including destroyers, frigates, submarines, survey vessels, anti-submarine craft and support ships, have joined the force.

All three ships have been constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. According to the Ministry of Defence, the vessels together have over 75 per cent indigenous content and involve the participation of more than 200 MSMEs.

The Navy has termed the simultaneous induction a “tri-commissioning", highlighting the addition of three distinct capabilities to the fleet.

INS Dunagiri

Among the three, INS Dunagiri is the largest and most heavily armed. The 149-metre-long frigate displaces around 6,670 tonnes and can attain speeds of nearly 28 knots, or about 52 kmph. It belongs to the Navy’s Project 17A, which focuses on building Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates.

Stealth features make the vessel harder to detect through radar and sensors. INS Dunagiri is equipped with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, Multi-Function Surveillance, Track And Guidance Radar (MFSTAR), sonar systems, electronic warfare equipment and anti-submarine weapons.

Project 17A succeeds the Shivalik-class Project 17 frigates already in service. Other ships under the programme include INS Nigiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri and Vindhyagiri.

Explaining the role of these warships, a serving Navy officer said, “At the strategic level, these multi-mission frigates are capable of operating in a ‘blue water’ environment — deep sea far from shore — dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats."

The officer added that integrated construction methods involving extensive pre-outfitting have helped reduce overall construction time. The ships are designed for anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare roles.

INS Sanshodhak

Unlike the missile-equipped frigate, INS Sanshodhak is meant for survey operations. Classified as a Survey Vessel-Large (SVL), it is tasked with gathering oceanographic and hydrographic data, including seabed characteristics, water depths, navigational channels and port approaches.

The vessel is about 110 metres long, has a displacement of around 3,300 tonnes and can sail at speeds of up to 18 knots, or nearly 33 kmph. It carries autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles and multi-beam echo sounders for underwater data collection.

Though not designed for combat, survey ships play a key role in naval operations.

A Navy officer who has served aboard such vessels said, “Warships and submarines do not operate in an empty blue space. They move through waters shaped by depth, seabed features, currents, reefs, channels, ports, underwater slopes and coastal clutter. Knowing this environment helps ships move safely, submarines plan routes, ports update charts, and forces prepare for operations. It also supports civilian needs such as safe shipping, disaster relief, ocean research and coastal development."

INS Sanshodhak is the fourth and final ship of the Sandhayak-class Survey Vessel-Large programme. The contract for four ships was signed in October 2018. Earlier vessels in the class — INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak and INS Ikshak — were commissioned in February 2024, December 2024 and November 2025, respectively.

INS Agray

The third platform, INS Agray, is the smallest but is designed for a specialised role. It belongs to the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft and is meant for submarine detection and attack in coastal waters.

Measuring around 77 metres and displacing approximately 900 tonnes, the vessel can travel at speeds of about 25 knots, or nearly 46 kmph. It carries indigenous anti-submarine rocket launchers, lightweight torpedoes and sonar systems. These are also the largest Indian Navy warships powered by waterjets.

Speaking about the importance of such vessels, an officer said, “Coastal waters are difficult places to find submarines. They are noisy, busy and cluttered. Fishing boats, merchant ships, seabed features and coastal activity can make submarine detection harder than in the open ocean. That is where ASW-SWCc such as Agray come in. They are smaller, faster, and designed for coastal anti-submarine work. Their job is to protect approaches to ports, naval bases and coastal routes from underwater threats."

The Defence Acquisition Council had approved the procurement of 16 such vessels in December 2013 at a cost exceeding Rs 13,000 crore.

Strategic And Industrial Significance

According to the Navy, the simultaneous induction strengthens different layers of maritime capability by adding a frontline combat ship, a survey vessel and a specialised anti-submarine platform.

“Together, they reflect the Navy’s balanced approach to capability development, strengthening blue-water operations, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and securing coastal waters against evolving threats." The Navy has said.

The induction comes at a time when maritime competition in the Indian Ocean region is intensifying. China has expanded its naval footprint, Pakistan continues to operate submarines and other platforms, while India’s responsibilities now extend across the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, island territories and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

Emphasising the broader significance of the development, an officer said, “Triple commissioning should not be seen merely as three more ships joining the fleet. It is a sign of how the Navy is building capability in layers: big warships for distant operations, survey ships to understand the sea, and smaller submarine-hunters to guard coastal waters."

The simultaneous construction and commissioning of three technologically different vessels also reflects the growing capabilities of India’s shipbuilding ecosystem.

As another officer noted, the significance of the event goes beyond the individual ships. Together, INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray represent “a Navy that wants to fight better, see better, and defend its near seas better."

News india All About INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak And INS Agray, The Indian Navy's Newest Warships

Read More