Indian Navy Boosts Maritime Strength with Indigenous Project 17A Stealth Frigates
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Defence Technology, Naval Assets); Current events of national and international importance; Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3: Indigenization of technology and developing new technology; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate; Security challenges and their management in border areas (maritime security).
Key Highlights from the News
The Indian Navy commissioned two new indigenously built warships, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, in Visakhapatnam.
These are advanced stealth frigates as part of Project 17A.
This is the first time in the history of the Indian Navy that two major warships, built in different shipyards (Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd., Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata), were commissioned simultaneously.
These ships have enhanced stealth capabilities, modern weapons, and sensors.
They were designed by the Navy's own design agency, Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
They are built with approximately 75% indigenous content, which is an excellent example of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in the defence sector.
These ships will be part of the Eastern Fleet to increase the operational radius of the Navy in the Indian Ocean.
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