Why in news?

The Indian Navy commissioned three indigenously built warships—INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray, in Kolkata.

The significance of this "tri-commissioning" lies in the fact that each ship performs a distinct strategic role, collectively enhancing India's blue-water capability, maritime domain awareness, and coastal security.

More than 75% of the components are indigenous, reflecting the growing success of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• The Three Ships at a Glance
• Strategic Significance
• Conclusion

The Three Ships at a Glance

INS Dunagiri — The Blue-Water Warrior

• Dunagiri is a stealth guided-missile frigate under Project 17A. It is the largest of the three (149 m, 6,670 tonnes).
  • 'Stealth' here means reduced radar and sensor visibility — not complete invisibility.
• Key weapons and systems: BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles, Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, MFSTAR radar, sonar, electronic warfare systems, and anti-submarine weapons.
• Its role is blue-water operations — fighting far out at sea against both conventional and non-conventional threats.
• Sister ships in Project 17A include INS Nigiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, and Vindhyagiri.

INS Sanshodhak — The Eye Beneath the Sea

• Sanshodhak is a Survey Vessel — Large (SVL). Its job is to measure and map the sea: water depth, seabed features, navigational routes, port approach channels, and oceanographic data.
• It is equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and multi-beam echo sounders.
• It is the last ship of the Sandhayak-class SVLs (contract signed October 2018).
  • The other three are INS Sandhayak (Feb 2024), INS Nirdeshak (Dec 2024), and INS Ikshak (Nov 2025).
• Why it matters: Submarines and warships don't operate in empty water. Knowing the underwater terrain — depths, currents, seabed clutter — is essential for safe navigation, submarine route planning, port management, disaster relief, and coastal development.

INS Agray — The Coastal Submarine-Hunter

• Agray is the smallest (77 m, 900 tonnes) but most specialised of the three. It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) of the Arnala-class.
• Its weapons: lightweight torpedoes, indigenous anti-submarine rocket launchers, and sonar systems.
• Its role is to detect and destroy submarines in littoral waters — shallow coastal zones near ports, naval bases, and sea approaches.
• Coastal waters are especially tricky for sub-detection because fishing boats, merchant vessels, and seabed clutter create a noisy, cluttered acoustic environment. That is precisely where Agray operates.

Strategic Significance

• Layered Naval Capability
  • The triple-commissioning is significant because it adds three distinct capabilities in one ceremony: blue-water strike power, maritime domain awareness, and coastal anti-submarine defence.
  • This reflects a layered approach to naval capability-building.
• Geopolitical Context
  • The Indian Ocean is increasingly contested. China and Pakistan are expanding their naval presence.
  • India's maritime responsibilities now span the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, island territories (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep), and the broader Indo-Pacific.
  • The Navy is therefore developing capabilities at multiple layers:
    • Deep-sea combat platforms.
    • Maritime surveillance assets.
    • Coastal defence systems.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence
  • All three ships were built domestically by GRSE, Kolkata.
  • Three technologically distinct vessels — a stealth frigate, a survey ship, and an ASW craft — being built and commissioned together signals the maturing of India's naval shipbuilding ecosystem.
  • The involvement of 200+ MSMEs underlines the depth of the domestic defence-industrial base.

Conclusion

The simultaneous induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray marks a significant milestone in India's naval modernisation. Together, they strengthen combat capability, maritime awareness, and coastal defence while showcasing the growing maturity of India's indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.