INS Himgiri under Project 17A: Key Features and Significance

Context: INS Himgiri (Yard 3022) has been officially handed over to the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

About INS Himgiri

INS Himgiri is the third of the Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates, constructed for the Indian Navy under Project 17A. It is an advanced, indigenously designed warship that represents a big step in India’s naval prowess and its defence manufacturing Aatmanirbhar Bharat push.

Historical Context

The INS Himgiri is a rechristening of the old Leander-class frigate, INS Himgiri, which had served the country for 30 years until its decommissioning in 2005. The new INS Himgiri continues this tradition, being a quantum improvement in technology and fighting capability. Its induction into the fleet marks a very significant step towards strengthening the Indian Navy’s blue-water capabilities and strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific theatre.

Type & Class

• INS Himgiri is the third ship of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)
• It is the first ship of its class constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• The current INS Himgiri is a modern reincarnation of the original Leander-class frigate INS Himgiri

Design & Supervision

• Designed by: Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
• Construction overseen by: Warship Overseeing Team (WOT), Kolkata.

Key Features of INS Himgiri

• Advanced Weaponry & Sensors: Equipped with a state-of-the-art weapon and sensor suite, offering upgrades over the earlier Project 17 (Shivalik-class).
• Propulsion System: Uses a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion setup.
  • Powered by both diesel engines and gas turbines.
  • Drives Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) via an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
• Armament Includes:
  • Supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM)
  • Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM)
  • Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS) with rapid-fire capability
• Indigenization:
  • Boasts 75% indigenous content.
  • Involved over 200 MSMEs during construction at GRSE.

Sharing is caring!