GRSE Prepares to Deliver Two New Warships, Including an Advanced Stealth Frigate, to the Navy
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Synopsis
The INS Himgiri, an Advanced Stealth Frigate for the Indian Navy, is nearing completion. GRSE announced the successful Contractor Sea Trials for both the INS Himgiri and INS Androth, showcasing India's growing naval capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- INS Himgiri is the second Advanced Stealth Frigate nearing completion.
- The frigate is armed with BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles.
- Successful CSTs were conducted for INS Himgiri and INS Androth.
- ASW SWCs are being built in India for the first time.
- The INS Himgiri is the largest warship constructed by GRSE.
Kolkata, March 17 (NationPress) The INS Himgiri, the second ship in a series of Advanced Stealth Frigates being constructed for the Indian Navy by Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd in Kolkata, is approaching completion.
The INS Himgiri is the first of three such warships being developed by the GRSE.
On Monday, the GRSE announced that the INS Himgiri — equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and anti-surface missiles along with Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles — successfully completed her Contractor Sea Trial (CST) on March 3. The INS Androth, the second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) being constructed by the GRSE, also finished her CST on the same day, according to the GRSE.
These smaller, yet heavily-armed ASW SWCs are a first for Indian shipyards. They are designed to detect and neutralize underwater threats near the coastline. These versatile vessels can also fulfill various roles and participate in fleet operations in the open sea.
The INS Himgiri stands as the largest warship under construction at the GRSE. Specifically, these Project 17 Alpha class Frigates, each weighing 6,670 tons, represent the largest frigates ever constructed in India. The initial vessel in this series, INS Nilgiri, created by the Mazgaon shipyard, was commissioned into the Navy on January 15 of this year by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
"A CST marks the concluding phase of construction, wherein a vessel's seaworthiness is assessed. Key aspects like speed, maneuverability, and the functionality of onboard systems are evaluated. In this instance, senior officials from GRSE, the Indian Navy, and classification societies were present on both warships to oversee their performance," noted a senior GRSE official.
The CST for INS Arnala — the first of the ASW SWCs — has also been successfully completed recently, and she is set for delivery to the Navy soon. GRSE received the Raksha Mantri Award 2022 for designing the most silent ship, which pertains to the INS Arnala.
