President Murmu launches INS Vindhyagiri, 6th stealth frigate in Navy's arsenal

  President Murmu launches INS   Vindhyagiri, 6th stealth frigate in   Navy's arsenal

 President Droupadi Murmu launched INS Vindhyagiri, an advanced   stealth frigate, at the GRSE facility on the banks of the River   Hooghly in Kolkata.

 President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday launched INS   Vindhyagiri, an advanced stealth frigate, at Garden Reach   Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd's (GRSE) facility on the banks   of River Hooghly in Kolkata.

President Droupadi Murmu launching the Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Vindhyagiri.                       

  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor SCV   Ananda Bose, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other   senior officials were also present during the launch ceremony.

 

INS Vindhyagiri is the sixth stealth frigate built under Project 17A After the launch, INS Vindhyagiri will join its two sister ships at the outfitting jetty at GRSE, to progress on remaining activities and equipment trials, in the run-up to their delivery and commissioning the GRSE.

After the launch, INS Vindhyagiri will join its two sister ships at the outfitting jetty at GRSE, to progress on remaining activities and equipment trials, in the run-up to their delivery and commissioning

Project 17A Frigates are the follow-on class of the Project 17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates, with improved stealth features, advanced weapons & sensors and platform management systems.

 Seven Project 17A Frigates are under various stages of   construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and GRSE.

      According to Defence Ministry officials, the launch of INS   Vindhyagiri will boost the defence industrial base in India,   reducing India’s dependence on foreign suppliers, promoting  self-reliance and fostering a robust defence industrial base.

   This is the third and last stealth frigate that the Kolkata-based warship maker was contracted to build for the Navy under the project. The state-of-the-art ship will be fitted with the latest gadgets and undergo extensive trials before being handed over to the Indian Navy for commissioning into service.

   Over 75 per cent of the orders of Project 17 A have been placed on indigenous firms, including MSMEs and ancillary industries in the country, which is in line with the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) of the Narendra Modi-led union government.

During the event, President Droupadi Murmu emphasised the significance of Vindhyagiri and hoped that as INS Vindhyagiri touches the waters of the mighty Hooghly for the first time, it draws strength from the very mountains it is named after, sailing with unwavering determination, upholding the values we hold dear.