INS Himgiri

On July 31, 2025, the Indian Navy received Himgiri (Yard 3022), the third ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates, from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. This delivery marks a significant step towards India’s goal of self-reliance in warship building.

Key Features and Significance of Himgiri:

• Indigenous Design: The frigate was designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built using the “Integrated Construction” philosophy, which involves pre-outfitting modules to reduce build time.
• A “Reincarnation”: The new frigate is a reincarnation of the original INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate that served the nation for 30 years before being decommissioned in 2005.
• Technological Leap: Himgiri and the other Project 17A frigates represent a generational leap in naval design compared to their predecessors, the Project 17 (Shivalik-class) frigates. They feature enhanced stealth capabilities, firepower, automation, and survivability.
• Advanced Weaponry and Sensors: The Project 17A frigates are equipped with a state-of-the-art weapon and sensor suite, including:
  • Supersonic Surface-to-Surface missiles (BrahMos).
  • Medium-Range Surface-to-Air missiles (Barak 8ER, with a range of up to 150 km).
  • A versatile 76 mm naval gun.
  • Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS), including 30 mm and 12.7 mm rapid-fire guns.
  • Advanced radar systems like the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Shakti electronic warfare suite.
  • The BEL HUMSA-NG sonar for anti-submarine warfare.
• Project Status: Himgiri is the first Project 17A frigate built by GRSE. The first two ships of the class, INS Nilgiri and INS Udaygiri, were delivered to the Indian Navy in December 2024 and July 2025, respectively. The remaining four ships of the class are at various stages of construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and GRSE, with deliveries expected by the end of 2026.