The world watched in awe during Operation Sindhur against Pakistan, witnessing the BrahMos missiles' formidable strikes. The targets were utterly destroyed. BrahMos has significantly enhanced the strength of the armed forces in all its editions. Following its unparalleled success, the Indian Navy is acquiring two new warships, Udaygiri and Himgiri, capable of launching BrahMos missiles.
With these newly inducted ships, the Indian Navy now boasts a total of 14 guided missile stealth frigates. Each frigate is equipped with 8 vertical launch BrahMos anti-ship missile launchers. Introduced in 2003, the Talwar-class warships, currently have 6 active ships, with 4 equipped with BrahMos missiles and work ongoing for the remaining 2. Additionally, under the 2016 India-Russia pact, 4 new Talwar-class warships are being constructed. Two ships, Tushil and Tamal, have been inducted into the Navy, with two others to follow soon.
In the near future, the Indian Navy will have a total of 20 guided missile stealth frigates, including 7 of the Nilgiri class, 3 of the Shivalik class, and 10 of the Talwar class. Furthermore, the Navy operates 13 destroyers, each new destroyer equipped with 16 BrahMos launchers, while the older ones have 8. This fleet comprises 4 Visakhapatnam-class guided missile destroyers, 3 of the Kolkata class, 3 of the Delhi class, and 3 of the Rajput class.
When combined, the Indian Navy can launch over 300 BrahMos missiles simultaneously by 2030. The Navy's objective is to arm all ships with BrahMos missiles, significantly bolstering India's maritime strength and defensive capabilities.
The Capabilities of the Nilgiri-Class Warships
In alignment with India's self-reliance initiative, the Navy is being equipped with indigenous warships. Under Project 17A, 7 Nilgiri-class guided missile stealth frigates are being constructed for the Navy. Contracts were signed in 2015 with Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) for 4 frigates and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited for 3 more.
All 7 ships from this project were launched between 2019 and 2023 by MDL and GRSE shipbuilders, with sea trials underway for 4 of them. The inclusion of these stealth guided missile frigates will mark a remarkable increase in India's prowess over the deep blue seas. Udaygiri, designed by the Navy's design bureau, is the hundredth ship designed by them. The first Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, Udaygiri, was handed over to the Navy on July 1. Following on July 31, the advanced stealth frigate Himgiri, crafted under Project 17A, was also inducted into the Navy. The series' first vessel, INS Nilgiri, was commissioned into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this January.
The BrahMos Power of Himgiri and Udaygiri
The most formidable feature of the Project 17A warships Himgiri and Udaygiri is their armament with BrahMos for anti-surface and anti-ship warfare. They are also equipped with air defense guns and Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles to bolster the Navy's anti-air warfare capabilities. Additionally, these warships are armed with Varunastra torpedoes and anti-submarine rocket launchers for submarine countermeasures.
These ships boast radar with sonar systems, a combat management system, and multifunction digital radars that detect, track, and intercept threats from a distance.
Each warship is designed to accommodate two helicopters, with a hangar for storage. Of the equipment used in all 7 Project 17A warships, 75% is sourced from indigenous companies. They are designed using local resources, including the steel used in their construction. These ships, weighing 6,700 tons, can cruise at speeds of 30 nautical miles per hour. The warships under Project 17A are 5% larger than the Shivalik-class vessels they resemble.
