GRSE and Indian Navy officials on board the frigate Himgiri during the warship’s handing-over ceremony. (Photo: GRSE)
New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers delivered the advanced guided-missile frigate Himgiri to the Indian Navy on Thursday. The delivery marks a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence-manufacturing capabilities. The warship, built under the Navy’s Project-17A programme, is scheduled for formal commissioning by the end of August.
After commissioning, the warship will be christened as INS Himgiri.
The delivery represents GRSE’s 801st vessel since its inception, with 112 of these being warships – a record unmatched by any Indian shipyard. Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth, chief staff officer (technical) at the Eastern Naval Command, formally accepted the vessel from GRSE officials.
GRSE Delivers its 801st Vessel—‘Himgiri’, an Advanced P17A Frigate to Indian Navy
— GRSE - Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) July 31, 2025
Kolkata (July 31, 2025): In a historic achievement, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd delivered Himgiri, the Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate and the first of three being built by… pic.twitter.com/iFopT1o5MH
Largest frigate in GRSE’s history
Himgiri stands as the largest and most sophisticated guided-missile frigate constructed by GRSE in its 65-year history as a defence public sector undertaking. The 149-metre-long vessel displaces 6,670 tonnes and represents the first of three frigates being built under Project-17A, with the entire programme valued at over ₹21,833 crore.
Launched on December 14, 2020, the frigate incorporates advanced indigenous technologies and weaponry systems. The vessel is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles alongside Barak 8 anti-aircraft missiles, marking a substantial enhancement in the Navy’s strike and defensive capabilities.
Advanced combat systems, indigenous content
The warship features a hybrid propulsion system combining diesel engines with gas turbines, complemented by advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and modern combat systems. Himgiri’s multirole capabilities encompass anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare operations, whilst offering enhanced survivability features and improved operational capabilities.
The frigate can accommodate 225 personnel in comfortable living quarters and provides comprehensive aviation facilities for helicopter operations. The high indigenous content in the vessel’s construction underscores India’s growing self-reliance in defence production, with significant portions of the project value supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, start-ups, and original equipment manufacturers across the country.
Robust pipeline of naval projects
GRSE currently maintains an active construction programme involving 15 warships across four different classes for the Indian Navy. Two vessels – Androth, the second anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, and Ikshak, the third survey vessel large – have completed contractor sea trials and are being prepared for delivery. The remaining 13 warships are at various stages of construction.
The shipbuilder has also emerged as the lowest bidder for the Navy’s next-generation corvette programme, which involves constructing five vessels. GRSE expects to conclude this contract shortly, further strengthening its order book and reinforcing its position as a key player in India’s naval shipbuilding sector.
The delivery of Himgiri demonstrates India’s advancing capabilities in complex warship construction and marks another step towards achieving greater self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. The Project-17A programme represents a critical component of the Navy’s modernisation efforts, designed to enhance India’s maritime security capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
The successful completion and delivery of advanced platforms like Himgiri reflects the country’s broader “Make in India” initiative in the defence sector, whilst contributing to employment generation and technological advancement within the domestic shipbuilding ecosystem.
