As Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray into the Indian Navy at Kolkata’s Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, senior naval officers highlighted the advanced technology, indigenous systems and strategic importance of the newly inducted warships.
Commander Sunil Malpotra, Commanding Officer of INS Agray, said the vessel may appear compact but is equipped with formidable combat capabilities designed for modern naval warfare.
“Don’t judge the ship by its size. It may look small, but it is densely packed with weapons and sensors. It has all the capabilities required to detect, track and neutralise enemy submarines. Besides anti-submarine operations, the ship is also capable of dealing with asymmetric threats on the surface,” he said.
Commander Malpotra explained that INS Agray is fitted with a fully indigenous anti-submarine warfare suite, including an advanced sonar system, combat management system, rocket launchers, torpedo tubes and a decoy system capable of diverting incoming enemy torpedoes.
INS Dunagiri’s Commanding Officer, Captain Divya Alok, highlighted the ship’s cultural significance, noting that it belongs to the P-17 Alpha class of warships, all of which are named after mountains, reflecting India’s rich mythological and cultural heritage.
Sharing his experience, INS Agray’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rishabh, described the commissioning as the culmination of months of hard work.
“The journey has been professionally challenging yet immensely satisfying. Around eight to nine months ago, we saw this ship as little more than a steel structure. Today, it is fully equipped and ready to serve the nation,” he said.
He added that INS Agray is the fifth vessel in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) class and has been specifically designed to detect and hunt submarines operating in shallow coastal waters and littoral regions.
Engineering Officer Lieutenant Commander Piyush highlighted one of the vessel’s standout technological features—its advanced waterjet propulsion system.
“Most naval ships rely on conventional propeller technology, but INS Agray is among the largest ships in the Indian Navy to be equipped with a waterjet propulsion system. The technology draws in water and expels it at high speed, offering improved manoeuvrability and operational efficiency,” he explained.
The induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray marks another significant milestone in strengthening India’s maritime security. Equipped with advanced indigenous technologies, the three vessels are expected to enhance the Navy’s capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, hydrographic surveys, coastal defence and maritime surveillance, while reinforcing the country’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
With inputs from IANS