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Three Indigenously built naval vessels into the Indian Navy (UPSC-RAS)

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  1. INS Dunagiri
  2. INS Sanshodhak
  3. INS Agray
  • Built by - Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata ( a Defence PSU)
  • Design: Developed indigenously by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau.
Feature INS Dunagiri INS Sanshodhak INS Agray

Type

Stealth Frigate  

Survey Vessel (Large)

ASW Shallow Water Craft

Class

Nilgiri-class (P-17A)

Sandhayak -class

Arnala-class

Key weapon

BrahMos, MRSAM, HUMSA-NG

Hydrographic suite, AUV, ROV

Torpedoes, ASW rockets, sonar

Strategic Significance -

  • Enhances India's maritime combat capabilities underwater and surface warfare readiness, hydrographic surveys, maritime domain awareness.
  • Expected to increase employment in eastern India, given GRSE's Kolkata base.
  • Reflects Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence India as producer and decision-maker, not just a buyer.
  •  India is no longer just a buyer; it is manufacturing and selling modern weapons to many countries and building indigenous strength.
  • Supports Make in India in defence manufacturing and export ambitions.

 Broader Policy Context

  • India has moved from being the world's largest arms importer to an active defence exporter defence exports have grown significantly over the last decade.
  • Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy plays a central role in indigenous naval design capability.
  • The induction aligns with India's Maritime VisionSAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, and the goal of a 350+ ship Navy by 2035.
  • Kolkata and the Hooghly/Bay of Bengal coastline have historically been central to India's maritime trade and strategic interests.