The Indian Navy commissioned three indigenously built warships on June 21, 2024 [1], at the Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers facility in Kolkata [2].
The expansion of the fleet marks a significant milestone in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme. By reducing dependence on foreign military imports, India aims to secure its maritime borders through domestic engineering and production.
The three vessels added to the fleet include the INS Dunagiri, the INS Agray, and a third ship reported as either the INS Sanshodhak or the INS Sandhayak [3]. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Admiral Krishna Swaminathan [4].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I am proud of this step towards self‑reliance and our growing maritime strength" [5]. The addition of these ships is intended to strengthen the country's overall maritime capabilities and enhance the protection of national interests in the region.
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said these ships will boost the Indian Navy's capabilities and make its efforts to protect the nation's maritime interests more powerful [6]. The vessels were constructed locally to ensure that the navy can maintain and upgrade its hardware without relying on external suppliers.
The project emphasizes the role of the Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers in Kolkata as a hub for naval architecture [2]. The deployment of three [7] new ships allows the navy to increase its operational presence across various maritime zones.
This push for indigenous construction is part of a broader strategy to modernize the navy's fleet while stimulating the domestic defense industry. The government intends for these vessels to serve as a foundation for future naval expansions.
“I am proud of this step towards self‑reliance and our growing maritime strength.”
The commissioning of these vessels signals India's transition from a primary importer of naval technology to a producer. By integrating domestically built ships like the INS Dunagiri and INS Agray into active service, India strengthens its strategic autonomy in the Indian Ocean region, reducing the geopolitical risk associated with foreign supply chains during maritime conflicts.
