Project 17A – Indigenous Advanced Stealth Frigates (Himgiri)

Project 17A (P-17A):

• Type: Stealth guided-missile frigates

• Class Name: Nilgiri Class

• Successor to: Shivalik-class (P-17)

• Total Ships Planned: 7

  • Builders:

    • Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) – 4 ships

    • Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) – 3 ships

Himgiri (Yard 3022)

• Delivered on: 31 July 2025

• Built by: GRSE, Kolkata

• 3rd ship of P17A, 1st by GRSE

• Reincarnation of: Former INS Himgiri (Leander-class frigate, decommissioned in 2005)

Symbol of:

• Aatmanirbhar Bharat in warship design and construction

• Advanced Indian naval engineering and stealth capabilities

Design and Construction Features

• Designed by: Warship Design Bureau (WDB)

• Supervised by: Warship Overseeing Team, Kolkata

• Construction Methodology:

  • Integrated Construction using modular and ergonomic designs

  • Built within envisaged timelines

Key Indigenous Aspects:

• Indigenous content: Approx. 75%

• Over 200 MSMEs involved

• Employment generation:

  • Direct: ~4,000

  • Indirect: ~10,000

Technological & Combat Capabilities

Stealth and Survivability:

• Advanced stealth shaping

• Improved survivability against modern threats

• Enhanced automation for reduced crew load

Propulsion System:

• CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas):

  • Diesel engines for cruising

  • Gas turbines for high-speed operations

• CPP (Controllable Pitch Propellers) for better maneuverability

• IPMS (Integrated Platform Management System) for automation

Weapon and Sensor Suite:

• Supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSMs)

• Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system

• 76 mm main gun

• Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS):

  • 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire guns

• Enhanced radar, sonar, and EW systems (exact details classified)

Strategic Importance

• Enhances Indian Navy’s blue-water capability

• Boosts multi-mission maritime dominance (anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine)

• Reflects focus on self-reliance in defence sector

• Strengthens India's capacity to protect its maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)