India's Maritime Muscle on Display: GRSE's Frigate Showpiece at Kolkata Airport

In a significant display of India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing, a massive scale model of the Project 17A Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate has been unveiled at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. This striking landmark, situated at one of Eastern India's busiest international gateways, showcases India's technological capabilities and rapid strides in defence manufacturing. The Project 17A Advanced Frigate, designed for multi-mission operations, represents a generational leap in indigenous warship design, stealth, firepower, automation, and combat capability. ## A Testament to India's Maritime Power The scale model, measuring 20 meters in length, is a fully weatherproof representation of the actual warship, which measures 149 meters in length and displaces approximately 6,670 tonnes. The frigate is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, making it a formidable force in the Indian Navy's fleet. GRSE, a premier defence public sector undertaking, has played a pivotal role in the successful execution of Project 17A, delivering three warships to the Indian Navy in record time. The first GRSE-built frigate, Himgiri, was delivered on 31 July 2025, while the second frigate, Dunagiri, was delivered on 30 March 2026 and subsequently commissioned into service by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 21 June 2026. The third and final frigate of the class being built by GRSE, Vindhyagiri, is currently at an advanced stage of construction. ## A Proud Collaboration between AAI and GRSE The non-commercial display of the frigate's scale model serves as a striking landmark for millions of passengers, symbolizing the nation's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. This initiative reflects the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047' and underscores the transformative power of 'Atmanirbharta' (Self-Reliance) in warship building. The collaboration between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and GRSE is a proud moment for the nation, bringing indigenous naval technology prowess closer to the public eye. ## GRSE's Contributions to India's Defence Manufacturing GRSE has been operating from Kolkata since 1960 and holds the unique distinction of being the only Indian shipyard to have built and delivered the highest number of warships to the nation's armed forces. To date, the shipyard has built and delivered 118 warships, including 80 warships for the Indian Navy, a record unmatched by any shipyard in the country. GRSE is currently constructing multiple advanced platforms, including one Project 17A Advanced Frigate, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs), four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), and several commercial and export vessels. ## Key Takeaways - The Project 17A Advanced Guided-Missile Frigate represents a generational leap in indigenous warship design, stealth, firepower, automation, and combat capability. - GRSE has played a pivotal role in the successful execution of Project 17A, delivering three warships to the Indian Navy in record time. - The scale model of the frigate at Kolkata airport serves as a striking landmark, symbolizing India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its technological capabilities.