INS Dunagiri · Nilgiri-class P17A stealth frigate (Yard 12666, MDL)
Nilgiri-class P17A stealth frigate; commissioned 6 Feb 2026 at MDL Mumbai; sister of Mahendragiri; BrahMos + Barak-8/ER; ~75% indigenous.
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At a Glance
- Class
- Nilgiri-class Project 17A stealth frigate
- Shipyard
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai
- Displacement
- ~6,670 tonnes full load
- Length
- ~149 m
- Beam
- ~17.8 m
- Propulsion
- COGAG — 2x GE LM2500 gas turbines + 2x MAN diesel engines
- Speed
- >28 knots
- Range
- ~5,500 nm
- Main armament
- 32-cell VLS (16 BrahMos + 16 Barak-8/ER)
- Gun
- 76mm OTO Melara SRGM + AK-630 CIWS (2)
- ASW
- Twin 324mm torpedo tubes + RBU-6000 + multi-role helicopter
- Radar
- BEL MF-STAR AESA (IAI EL/M-2248 technology)
- Commissioned
- 6 February 2026, MDL Mumbai
- Class size
- 7 ships (Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri, Mahendragiri, Vindhyagiri)
- indicators
- []
- key specs
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What It Is
INS Dunagiri is the sixth Nilgiri-class Project 17A (P17A) stealth frigate, named after a mountain peak in the Kumaon Himalaya. Built by MDL in Mumbai and commissioned on 6 February 2026, she shares the class's stealth-optimised design, COGAG propulsion based on GE LM2500 gas turbines, a 32-cell vertical launch system firing BrahMos and Barak-8/ER missiles, a 76mm main gun, close-in weapon systems, and an integrated ASW fit including torpedoes, an RBU-6000 rocket launcher and a multi-role helicopter. Dunagiri is a sister of INS Mahendragiri (commissioned 13 January 2026) and the lead ship Nilgiri (December 2025), completing the MDL tranche of the seven-ship P17A programme. The class represents India's most modern surface combatant line and is a flagship demonstration of the indigenous warship-building ecosystem at MDL and its extensive Indian vendor base.
Deployments & Procurement
The P17A programme was sanctioned in 2015 for seven frigates at ~₹45,000 crore. INS Dunagiri was commissioned on 6 February 2026 at MDL Mumbai. With the class now complete (Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Taragiri, Himgiri, Dunagiri, Mahendragiri and Vindhyagiri), the frigates will distribute across the Indian Navy's two major commands for escort, air-defence and strike roles.
| Agency | Context | Year | Quantity / Note | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Navy | P17A frigate programme sanctioned (7 ships) | 2015 | 7 frigates, ~₹45,000 crore programme value | [1] |
| Indian Navy / MDL | INS Dunagiri launched | 2023 | Launched at MDL, Mumbai | [1] |
| Indian Navy | INS Dunagiri commissioned | 2026 | 6 February 2026, MDL Mumbai | [1][2] |
Open Questions
- Exact division of the 7 ships between Eastern and Western fleets
- Whether any P17A is earmarked for an overseas/Eastern-based squadron shift
- Timing of the Vindhyagiri (GRSE-built) commissioning
Import Dependencies
Import content mirrors the rest of the P17A class: propulsion, radar technology and some missile sub-systems are sourced from abroad.
| Component | Severity | Note | Pillar | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE LM2500 gas turbines | Critical | US (GE Aviation) — propulsion prime mover | /research/pillars/defence/ | [1] |
| BrahMos cruise missile | High | India-Russia JV; some sub-systems Russian | /research/pillars/defence/ | |
| Barak-8 / ER surface-to-air missile | High | Israel (IAI) co-development with DRDO | /research/pillars/defence/ | |
| MF-STAR radar technology | Medium | IAI-developed; BEL indigenising AESA variants | /research/pillars/defence/ |
Intelligence Assessment
Methodology: /research/methodology
Indian P17A design but with imported propulsion/weapons/radar
Sources: [1]
Gas turbines, radar, SAM/cruise missile components imported
Sources: [1]
Part of 7-ship class; will reinforce fleet strength
P17-type hull exportable; MDL/GRSE marketing frigates abroad
Knowledge Graph
Timeline
FAQ
When was INS Dunagiri commissioned?
INS Dunagiri was commissioned on 6 February 2026 at MDL Mumbai, making it the sixth Nilgiri-class P17A frigate to enter service.
What is the significance of the Dunagiri name?
Dunagiri is named after a mountain peak (7,066 m) in the Kumaon Himalaya in Uttarakhand, continuing the Indian tradition of naming frigates after mountain ranges and peaks.
Sources: [1]
How does Dunagiri compare to the earlier Shivalik class it replaces?
The P17A improves on the Shivalik class primarily through a fully stealth-optimised hull and superstructure, an integrated platform management system, higher indigenous content (~75%), and an upgraded suite of sensors and weapons in the same 32-cell VLS configuration.
Sources: [1]
Open Questions
- Exact final fleet disposition of the six commissioned P17A ships
- Any further P17B or follow-on frigate orders under consideration
- Fully fitted missile cell loadout confirmation
Sources
- src-1OfficialINS Dunagiri commissioned — PIB / Indian Navy
Official commissioning announcement
- src-2IndicativeINS Dunagiri — Project 17A class detail
Class specifications and commissioning history
- src-3CredibleMazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited — official site
MDL vessel programme context
- src-4OfficialINS Dunagiri, INS Arighat and INS Anjadip commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkata
PIB commissioning of Dunagiri/Arighat/Anjadip
- src-5CrediblePM Modi commissions three Indian Navy warships - INS Dunagiri, INS Arighat, INS Anjadip - at Kolkata
Commissioning ceremony report
- src-atlas-listingIndicativeINS Dunagiri — Defence Atlas listing
Own register: indicative only, never official per standing evidence rules. All listing-derived figures in this dossier are attributed to this source.