Destroyer Surat, last of Project 15B, and frigate Nilgiri, first of Project 17A, delivered to Indian Navy
Two indigenously designed warships built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, the destroyer Surat and the frigate Nilgiri, were delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December 2024.
Summary
The Indian Navy took delivery of two warships on 20 December 2024: Yard 12707 Surat, a destroyer, and Yard 12651 Nilgiri, a frigate, both designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL). Surat is the fourth and final Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, after Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal, and completes the destroyer line that began with Project 15 (Delhi class) and Project 15A (Kolkata class). Surat displaces 7,400 tonnes, is 164 m long, uses a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set with four gas turbines and exceeded 30 knots in sea trials; it is poised to be the Navy's first AI-enabled warship. Nilgiri is the first Project 17A stealth frigate, a follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17), and the first of seven P17A frigates under construction at MDL, Mumbai, and GRSE, Kolkata.
Key facts
- Delivered
- 20 December 2024
- Design / build
- Warship Design Bureau / Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
- Surat
- Fourth and final Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer
- Earlier P15B ships
- Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal
- Surat specifications
- 7,400 tonnes; 164 m; COGAG, four gas turbines; over 30 knots
- AI
- Poised to be the Navy's first AI-enabled warship
- Nilgiri
- First Project 17A stealth frigate; follow-on of Shivalik class
- P17A programme
- Seven frigates at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata
Practice MCQs 4 questions
The destroyer Surat, delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December 2024, is the fourth and final ship of which project?
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Correct answer: B — Project 15B
PIB (Defence): Yard 12707 Surat is the fourth and final Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, following Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal.
Which propulsion arrangement powers the destroyer Surat?
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Correct answer: D — COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) with four gas turbines
PIB (Defence): Surat is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set comprising four gas turbines, and exceeded 30 knots during sea trials.
The Project 17A frigate Nilgiri is a follow-on of which class of frigates already in service?
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Correct answer: A — Shivalik class (Project 17)
PIB (Defence): Yard 12651 Nilgiri, the first Project 17A stealth frigate, is a follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service.
Consider the following statements about the warships delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December 2024: 1. Surat has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. 2. Surat is poised to be the Indian Navy's first AI-enabled warship. 3. The seven Project 17A frigates are being built at MDL, Mumbai and Cochin Shipyard, Kochi. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the seven P17A frigates are under construction at MDL, Mumbai and GRSE, Kolkata.