The India Navy received the advanced guided-missile frigate Himgiri on Thursday. The delivery is made by Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. Rear Admiral Ravnish Seth, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Eastern Naval Command, welcomed the warship into the fleet on behalf of the Navy.
This is one of the first of three such warships being built by GRSE under the Indian Navy's Project 17A, the GRSE official said. The three ships are worth over ₹21,833.36 crore.
About Himgiri -
These 149-metre-long, 6,670 tonne warships are the largest and the most sophisticated guided-missile frigates built by GRSE, said the officials.
Launched on December 14, 2020, Himgiri is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, along with Barak 8 anti-aircraft missiles, representing a major leap in naval strike and defensive capabilities, the statement cited, adding that the frigate is capable of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare operations.
Himgiri is the 112th warship built and delivered by the Kolkata-headquartered GRSE. The frigate is powered by a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines and is equipped with advanced AESA radar and modern combat systems.
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Himgiri is GRSE's 801st vessel -
Overall, Himgiri is the 801st vessel that GRSE has constructed and delivered. Of these, 112 are warships, which is a record that no shipyard in the nation has yet to surpass.
The ship, which has a significant amount of indigenous content, is an assertive representation of India's independence in defence manufacturing. This is in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan of the Indian government, which encourages domestic manufacturing and fortifies regional supply chains in an effort to foster self-reliance.
What else -
Additionally, 'Himgiri' offers 225 crew members cosy quarters and complete aviation amenities for helicopter operations, onboard.
GRSE is presently constructing 15 warships for the Indian Navy across four different classes. Among them, Androth -- the second ASWSWC -- and Ikshak -- the third Survey Vessel Large -- have successfully finished their contractor sea trials and are now being prepared for delivery.
The other 13 warships are progressing through different stages of construction, highlighting GRSE’s strong shipbuilding pipeline and focus on timely deliveries.
GRSE has also secured the position of the lowest bidder for the Navy’s Next Generation Corvettes and is expected to finalise the contract to build five of them soon.
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