Kolkata: In a major public-engagement and strategic branding initiative showcasing India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, inaugurated an impressive scale model of the Project 17A (Himgiri Class) Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate.
Installed at the City Side of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata, the ceremony took place in the presence of Cmde PR Hari, Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Capt (IN) P Sunilkumar (Retd.), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel), Vikram Singh, Director, NSCBI Airport, Kolkata alongside senior officials from both GRSE and the AAI.
The newly unveiled installation features a fully weatherproof, 20-metre-long scale model of the ship situated in the open-air space outside the airport terminal building. The model is fully designed, installed, and maintained by GRSE. The non-commercial display serves as a striking landmark for millions of passengers, symbolising “Aatmanirbharta” and a proud collaboration between AAI and GRSE while bringing indigenous naval technology prowess of the country closer to the public eye.
The initiative reflects Prime Minister’s Vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ and underscores the transformative power of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (Self-Reliance) in warship building. Placed at one of Eastern India’s busiest international gateways, the exhibit highlights the country’s technological capabilities and rapid strides in defence manufacturing to domestic and global travelers alike.
The scale model represents the Project 17A (Himgiri Class) Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate programme, one of India’s most ambitious indigenous warship-building initiatives. Designed for multi-mission operations, including anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, these next-generation stealth frigates incorporate advanced weapons, sensors and survivability features. Measuring 149 metres in length and displacing approximately 6,670 tonnes, the warships are powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system and represent a generational leap in indigenous warship design, stealth, firepower, automation and combat capability.
GRSE has played a pivotal role in the successful execution of Project 17A. The first GRSE-built frigate, Himgiri, was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 31, 2025, while the second frigate, Dunagiri, was delivered on March 30, 2026 and subsequently commissioned into service by the Prime Minister on June 21, 2026. The third and final frigate of the class being built by GRSE, Vindhyagiri, is currently at an advanced stage of construction. These technologically advanced warships reflect India’s growing expertise in indigenous warship design and construction and stand as powerful symbols of self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
As a Premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) operating from Kolkata since 1960, GRSE holds the unique distinction of being the only Indian shipyard to have built and delivered the highest number of warships to the nation’s armed forces. To date, the shipyard has built and delivered 118 warships, including 80 warships for the Indian Navy, a record unmatched by any shipyard in the country.
GRSE is currently constructing multiple advanced platforms, including one Project 17A Advanced Frigate, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs), four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), and several commercial and export vessels.
