INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray: How India’s Indigenous Naval Fleet is Strengthening Maritime Power

India’s rise as a major maritime power received a significant boost with the commissioning of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray. The three vessels were commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkata, highlighting the country’s growing capability in naval warfare, maritime surveillance, hydrographic research and indigenous defence manufacturing.

The commissioning of these ships is more than a ceremonial event. It reflects India’s determination to secure its vast maritime interests, strengthen the Indian Navy and reduce dependence on foreign defence suppliers under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India’s Maritime Importance

India possesses a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometers and is strategically located in the Indian Ocean Region. Nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume and around 70 percent by value moves through sea routes. Protecting these maritime corridors is essential for economic growth, energy security and national defence.

The Indian Ocean has also become an arena of increasing geopolitical competition. Nations are expanding their naval presence, making it necessary for India to strengthen its maritime capabilities through modern warships, surveillance platforms and specialized vessels.

Against this backdrop, INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray represent three different but complementary dimensions of naval power.

INS Dunagiri: The Combat Warrior

INS Dunagiri is an advanced stealth guided-missile frigate built under Project 17A, one of the Indian Navy’s most ambitious warship construction programs.

Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, the vessel is designed to perform a wide range of combat missions. It incorporates advanced stealth technology that reduces its radar signature, making it difficult for adversaries to detect.

The frigate is equipped to engage threats in the air, on the surface and underwater. It can protect aircraft carriers, escort merchant vessels and conduct long-range deployments across the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Key capabilities of INS Dunagiri include:

• Anti-air warfare
• Anti-ship warfare
• Anti-submarine warfare
• Fleet escort operations
• Maritime surveillance
• Long-duration missions

The vessel combines sophisticated sensors, weapons and communication systems, allowing it to operate effectively in modern network-centric warfare environments.

Named after the earlier INS Dunagiri that served the Navy with distinction, the new ship carries forward a proud naval legacy while incorporating cutting-edge technology.

INS Sanshodhak: Mapping the Oceans

While combat vessels often receive the most attention, maritime superiority also depends on knowledge of the seas. This is where INS Sanshodhak plays a crucial role.

INS Sanshodhak is a hydrographic survey vessel designed to conduct detailed mapping of the ocean floor and gather critical marine data. The name “Sanshodhak” means “researcher,” reflecting the ship’s scientific and survey-oriented mission.

Hydrographic surveys are essential for safe navigation, submarine operations, port development and maritime infrastructure projects. They provide detailed information about seabed topography, underwater obstacles, tides and coastal conditions.

The vessel is equipped with advanced survey systems, sonar equipment and data-processing technologies that enable precise mapping of maritime areas.

Its functions include:

• Hydrographic surveying
• Oceanographic research
• Nautical chart preparation
• Coastal mapping
• Support for naval operations
• Assistance during disaster management

The data collected by INS Sanshodhak helps both military and civilian agencies. Accurate hydrographic information improves navigational safety for commercial shipping while also enhancing naval operational planning.

In a region where maritime routes are becoming increasingly important, vessels like INS Sanshodhak provide the information foundation upon which naval power is built.

INS Agray: The Submarine Hunter

The underwater domain has become one of the most critical aspects of modern naval warfare. Submarines can operate stealthily, gather intelligence and launch attacks without warning.

INS Agray has been specifically designed to counter such threats.

The vessel belongs to the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) category. It is optimized to detect, track and neutralize enemy submarines operating in coastal and shallow waters.

These ships are particularly important because many strategic ports, naval bases and coastal installations are vulnerable to submarine threats.

INS Agray is equipped with advanced sonar systems and anti-submarine weapons that allow it to identify underwater targets and respond rapidly.

Its primary roles include:

• Submarine detection
• Coastal security
• Harbour protection
• Underwater surveillance
• Anti-submarine combat operations
• Maritime threat monitoring

As submarine deployments increase in the Indian Ocean Region, specialized platforms such as INS Agray provide an essential layer of defence for India’s maritime infrastructure.

A Triumph of Indigenous Shipbuilding

One of the most significant aspects of all three vessels is that they have been designed and built in India.

For decades after independence, India relied heavily on foreign countries for major naval platforms and defence equipment. While imported systems helped meet immediate requirements, they also created long-term dependencies.

Today, the situation is changing rapidly.

Indian shipyards such as Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Cochin Shipyard are producing sophisticated naval vessels that match global standards.

The commissioning of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray demonstrates several achievements:

• Growth of indigenous shipbuilding expertise
• Development of domestic defence technologies
• Employment generation in the defence sector
• Reduced dependence on imports
• Strengthening of strategic autonomy

The high indigenous content of these vessels aligns closely with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to make India a major defence manufacturing hub.

Why These Three Ships Matter Together

Although each vessel performs a different function, together they create a powerful maritime ecosystem.

INS Sanshodhak provides knowledge of the underwater environment through hydrographic surveys and ocean mapping.

INS Agray protects coastal waters by detecting and neutralizing submarine threats.

INS Dunagiri delivers frontline combat capability and can engage adversaries across multiple domains.

In simple terms:

• Sanshodhak helps the Navy understand the sea.
• Agray helps the Navy secure the sea.
• Dunagiri helps the Navy dominate the sea.

This integrated approach reflects the evolution of modern naval strategy, where information, surveillance and combat power work together.

Strengthening India’s Maritime Future

The commissioning of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray marks another milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a leading maritime power.

These vessels enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to protect sea lanes, secure coastal regions, counter emerging threats and project influence across the Indian Ocean Region.

More importantly, they symbolize India’s growing confidence in its own industrial and technological capabilities. As indigenous shipbuilding continues to advance, India is steadily moving from being a major defence importer to becoming a significant defence producer.

The three ships stand as powerful examples of how strategic vision, technological innovation and domestic manufacturing can combine to strengthen national security. Their induction into service not only boosts naval capabilities but also reinforces India’s ambition to emerge as a self-reliant and globally respected maritime nation.