In an event unprecedented in Indian naval history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three warships — INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray — into the Indian Navy at Kolkata on Saturday. All three vessels were built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., making this the first time any Indian shipyard has delivered three major surface warships on a single day.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by R. N. Ravi, Governor of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal, and Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, along with senior officials of the Indian Navy and GRSE.
Each of the three vessels serves a distinct strategic purpose. INS Dunagiri, the second Advanced Guided Missile Frigate built by GRSE under Project 17A, carries BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and substantially enhances the Navy’s strike and defensive capabilities. INS Sanshodhak, the last of four Survey Vessels (Large) constructed by the shipyard, will support hydrographic surveys, navigation, oceanographic data collection, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations. INS Agray, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, is equipped with advanced Combat Management Systems, lightweight torpedoes, anti-submarine warfare rockets, and a 30 mm Naval Surface Gun — with approximately 88% indigenous content.
With these three deliveries, GRSE has now built and handed over 118 warships in total, including 80 for the Indian Navy — the highest tally by any shipyard in the country.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi said the commissioning reflected the promise of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “These three vessels are symbols of three important national commitments. They have been built in India, their designs were developed in India. The talent of Indian industries, the skill of Indian engineers, the hard work of Indian workers — all of this has gone into them. And this is the greatest strength of the new India.”
Admiral Swaminathan noted that the second tri-commissioning in 17 months, following a similar event in Mumbai last year, demonstrated the accelerating momentum of India’s warship construction capacity. “India’s modernity, self-reliance and self-confidence are all gaining new momentum,” he said.
Founded in 1960, GRSE holds a string of firsts in Indian shipbuilding: the only yard to have delivered over 100 warships, the first to build a Fleet Replenishment Tanker, the first to export a warship — CGS Barracuda to Mauritius — and the only PSU shipyard to receive the Defence Minister’s Award for Excellence for designing the most silent Anti-Submarine Warfare vessel for the Indian Navy. The shipyard holds 100 Intellectual Property Rights and has been recognised as India’s Best Performing Defence Shipyard for four consecutive years.
GRSE currently has an active order book that includes one Project 17A Advanced Frigate, four ASW Shallow Water Crafts, four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, 13 export platforms, and is in advanced stages of concluding a contract for Next Generation Corvettes. powerhouse committed to national security, economic progress and nation-building excellence.
