Indian Naval Ship Y - 3024 Vindhyagiri launched

President Draupadi Murmu will launch Project 17A frigate Vindhyagiri on August 17, 2023 at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata.

The Vindhyagiri ship is named after the mountain range in Karnataka and is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigate.

• The warships modeled after the Project 17 class frigates (Shivalik class) are equipped with improved stealth characteristics, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.

• The technologically advanced ship 'Vindhyagiri' has been brought in to replace its predecessor Leander class ASW frigate.

• The erstwhile Vindhyagiri had participated in several challenging missions and multinational exercises during her 31 years of service from 08 Jul 1981 to 11 June 2012.

• The newly-built Vindhyagiri symbolizes India's determination to embrace its rich naval history as well as inspire future indigenous defense capability.

• A total of four vessels are under construction by M/s MDL and three vessels by M/s GRSE under the Project 17A programme. The first five ships of the project have been launched by MDL and GRSE between 2019-2022.

• The Project 17A ship has been indigenously designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, the lead organization for all warship design activities.

• In keeping with the spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', 75 per cent of orders for equipment and systems for Project 17A ships have been fulfilled by indigenous firms, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

• The launch of Vindhyagiri is a testament to the incredible progress India has made towards building a self-reliant navy.

Project 17A

• Project 17, Alpha Frigates (P-17A) was initiated by the Indian Navy in the year 2019 to build a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.

• They are currently being built by two companies - Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

• These guided-missile frigates are built with a distinctive stealth design, which includes radar avoidance technology that keeps it from enemy sightings.

• The new technology also reduces the ship's infrared signals.

• The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was Nilgiri, which was commissioned in the year 2019.

• The second ship Udayagiri was launched in May 2022 and will be operational in the year 2024.