India's maritime power gets a boost as PM Modi inducts three indigenous naval vessels

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commissioned three indigenously designed and built naval platforms — INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray — at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.

He described the induction as a major step towards strengthening India's maritime capabilities and advancing the vision of a self-reliant nation.

Addressing the tri-commissioning ceremony, the Prime Minister said that Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and the goal of a Viksit Bharat (developed India) are central to the country's progress.

He congratulated the Indian Navy, engineers and workers involved in the construction of the three vessels.

"Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat are the keys to India's progress. Today, an important event related to a self-reliant, secure and developed India is taking place. A short while ago, INS Agray, INS Dunagiri and INS Sanshodhak were inducted into the Indian Navy," PM Modi said.

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The commissioning of the three platforms comes amid India's broader efforts to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign military equipment.

Strengthening India's maritime capabilities

The three naval platforms represent distinct operational capabilities across combat operations, hydrographic surveying and anti-submarine warfare.

INS Dunagiri is a stealth frigate designed to enhance the Navy's combat readiness. Equipped with advanced weapons and sensor systems, the warship carries BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles and the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system. The vessel has been designed for sustained operations at sea and incorporates indigenous stealth technology.

Ahead of the commissioning, the Indian Navy described Dunagiri as a powerful and advanced warship capable of multi-dimensional operations.

"Precision. Power. Agility. Packed with state-of-the-art weapon and sensor suites and equipped with indigenous stealth technology, Dunagiri is built for multi-dimensional dominance and lethality," the Navy said in a video message.

INS Sanshodhak marks World Hydrography Day

Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the significance of commissioning INS Sanshodhak on June 21, which is observed globally as World Hydrography Day.

Describing it as India's most advanced hydrographic survey vessel, PM Modi said the occasion was a fitting coincidence. INS Sanshodhak is the fourth Survey Vessel (Large) built for the Indian Navy and is designed to undertake coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys.

The vessel is capable of collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for both defence and civilian applications. It is equipped with advanced survey systems, including Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), enabling precise mapping and data collection in maritime environments.

Enhancing anti-submarine warfare

The third platform, INS Agray, is the fourth vessel of the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft. It has been designed to detect and neutralise underwater threats in coastal and shallow-water regions.

Agray is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers and advanced shallow-water sonar systems, significantly strengthening the Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The induction of the three indigenous platforms reflects India's growing defence manufacturing capabilities and underscores the government's focus on building a modern, self-reliant and technologically advanced naval force.