Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the commissioning of three indigenously built naval platforms in Kolkata on June 21, 2024 [1].
The event marks a strategic push to enhance India's maritime capabilities and reduce the nation's reliance on foreign military imports. By integrating home-grown technology into the fleet, the government aims to showcase defence self-reliance and strengthen national security in the region [2, 3].
The ceremony will take place at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in West Bengal [1, 2]. The three vessels being inducted include the stealth frigate Dunagiri, the survey vessel Sanshodhak, and the warship Agray [1, 3]. While some reports classify all three as warships, other records specify that the group consists of two warships and one survey vessel [2].
These platforms are part of a broader initiative to modernize the Indian Navy using domestic manufacturing. The addition of the Dunagiri stealth frigate provides the navy with advanced capabilities for littoral and blue-water operations, a key component of India's naval strategy. Meanwhile, the Sanshodhak survey vessel is designed to improve hydrographic capabilities and seabed mapping [2, 3].
Prime Minister Modi's presence at the commissioning underscores the political priority of the "Make in India" initiative within the defence sector. The government has consistently pushed for the localization of military hardware to ensure that critical infrastructure is not dependent on external supply chains during times of conflict [2, 3].
The induction of these three platforms [1] represents a milestone in the domestic shipbuilding program. The project involves multiple Indian shipyards and technical partners, reflecting a coordinated effort to scale the production of complex naval assets without relying on foreign blueprints [3].
“The Indian Navy will add the Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, and Agray to its fleet.”
The commissioning of these vessels signals India's transition from a primary importer of naval technology to a developer of indigenous platforms. By diversifying its fleet with stealth frigates and specialized survey vessels, India is positioning itself to maintain greater autonomy over its maritime borders and reduce the strategic vulnerability associated with foreign procurement.
