The Indian Navy has hosted a launching ceremony for the new P17A frigate at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.
As informed, the frigate Dunagiri is the fourth vessel of Project 17A class and has been named after a mountain range in the state of Uttarakhand. The launching ceremony took place today (15 July) in the presence of Indian Navy officials.
Launch of Dunagiri, Project 17A frigate at #GRSE Ltd, Kolkata today. Shri @rajnathsingh , #RakshaMantri will be the Chief Guest. Named after the mountain range in the state of Uttarakhand, ‘Dunagiri’ is the fourth ship of P17A Frigates #AatmaNirbharBharat @OfficialGRSE File pics pic.twitter.com/uiazG4R7mT
The first two P17A frigates were launched in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The third ship in the class, Udaygiri, was launched at Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL).
Under the P17A program, there are a total of seven ships, with four frigates being built at MDL and three at GRSE. Last month, MDL held a keel-laying ceremony for the seventh and final P17A frigate for the Indian Navy.
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The P17A-class frigates are being built using indigenously developed steel and fitted with weapons and sensors along with an integrated platform management system. Construction of P17A ships differs in the very concept of warship building by way of adoption of the modern technology “Integrated Construction (IC)” where the blocks are pre-outfitted before joining to reduce the build period of warships, according to the navy.
The P17A frigates are a follow-on of the P17 frigates (Shivalik-class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and platform management systems.