Maarg Manthan · Topic 16.21

Frigates, Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers of the Indian Navy

Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.21

The Indian Navy's surface fleet is built around two aircraft carriers, a growing number of stealth destroyers and frigates, and corvettes and patrol vessels. The carriers are INS Vikramaditya, a modified Soviet ship acquired from Russia and commissioned on 16 November 2013, and INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier, built at Cochin Shipyard and commissioned on 2 September 2022. Destroyers include the Delhi class, the Kolkata class of Project 15A and the Visakhapatnam class of Project 15B, the last being among the most advanced guided missile destroyers built in India. Frigates include the Talwar class bought from Russia, the Shivalik class of Project 17 and the Nilgiri class of Project 17A, which have stealth features and BrahMos missiles.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems

At a Glance

Carriers Vikramaditya 2013, Vikrant 2022
Destroyers Kolkata P15A, Visakhapatnam P15B
Frigates Shivalik P17, Nilgiri P17A
Main builders MDL, GRSE, CSL
Weapon BrahMos, Barak-8
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of Shaurya, Astra, Dhanush and Prahaar. It returns to naval platforms and names the actual Indian classes, which the next topic on submarines and warships completes. Previous topic: Shaurya Missile, ASTRA Missile, Dhanush Missile and Prahaar Missile. Next topic: Indian Submarines and Naval Ships: Project 75, INS Kalvari, INS Kolkata, INS Kiltan.

What Are the Carriers and Destroyers?

Platform	Details
INS Vikramaditya	Ex Admiral Gorshkov, bought from Russia for about 2.3 billion dollars, around 45,000 tonnes, commissioned 16 November 2013. Carries MiG-29K fighters and helicopters
INS Vikrant	Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-1, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, about 40,000 tonnes, keel laid in 2009, launched in 2013 and commissioned on 2 September 2022. About 76 percent indigenous content. STOBAR operation
INS Viraat	The former carrier, ex HMS Hermes, served from 1987 to 2017
Delhi class (Project 15)	Three destroyers built at Mazagon Dock: Delhi, Mysore and Mumbai
Kolkata class (Project 15A)	INS Kolkata (2014), Kochi and Chennai. About 7,400 tonnes, with BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles
Visakhapatnam class (Project 15B)	Four ships: Visakhapatnam (November 2021), Mormugao (December 2022), Imphal (December 2023) and Surat (January 2025). About 7,400 tonnes, with more indigenous content
Rajput class	Older Soviet-origin destroyers, being retired

What Are the Frigates?

Talwar class (Project 1135.6): six frigates bought from Russia and built in Russia and India, such as INS Talwar and Tabar, with the BrahMos
Tushil class: two more Krivak-type frigates built in Russia, with the first, INS Tushil, commissioned in December 2024
Shivalik class (Project 17): three stealth frigates built at Mazagon Dock: Shivalik, Satpura and Sahyadri, commissioned between 2010 and 2012. First Indian ships with stealth features
Nilgiri class (Project 17A): seven stealth frigates, four built at Mazagon Dock and three at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata. The first, Nilgiri, Udaygiri and Himgiri were commissioned in 2025
Brahmaputra class: older frigates built in India
Corvettes: Kora, Khukri, Kamorta classes
Project 17B: a planned follow-on frigate programme
Builders: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, Garden Reach in Kolkata, Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, Goa Shipyard and private yards

What Else Should You Remember?

INS prefix: Indian Naval Ship
Commissioning: the ceremony when a ship formally joins the Navy
Keel laying and launch: stages in building a ship
Indigenisation level: the Navy says about 90 percent of the ships under construction are in Indian yards
Nilgiri: INS Nilgiri was the first of the Project 17A ships to be commissioned, in January 2025, along with INS Surat and the submarine Vaghsheer
Sensors: Indian made Revathi and other radars, and sonar such as HUMSA
Propulsion: gas turbine and diesel combinations
Weapons: vertical launch Barak-8, BrahMos, 76 mm guns and torpedoes
Helicopters: Sea King, Kamov and MH-60R carry out anti-submarine and strike roles
Aircraft: MiG-29K on carriers and Rafale-M fighters ordered for the Navy in 2025
Third carrier: the Navy has proposed a third carrier, which the Government has not yet cleared
Warship design: the Directorate of Naval Design
Defence Acquisition Council: approves new ship projects
Maritime strategy: India’s Maritime Doctrine and the MAHASAGAR vision of 2025
Hedge: ship numbers and commissioning dates change often, so check the Navy’s website
Link: types are in Naval Platforms: Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Destroyers, Frigates
Link to submarines: see Indian Submarines and Naval Ships: Project 75, INS Kalvari, INS Kolkata, INS Kiltan
Stealth features: sloped surfaces, reduced radar reflection and lower noise and heat help the new classes avoid detection

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Carriers: Vikramaditya, Vikrant
Project numbers: P15A, P15B, P17, P17A
Builders: MDL, GRSE, CSL
Current affairs link: new commissioning and third carrier
Common errors: mixing Kolkata class with Visakhapatnam class or saying Vikrant was built abroad

As an analytical point, the Indian Navy has moved from buying ships to building them at home, with each class more indigenous. The challenge is to keep to timelines and to build supporting industries for engines, sensors and weapons.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Carriers Two
Classes Project numbers
Builders Indian yards

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Indian submarines and naval ships, including Project 75, INS Kalvari, INS Kolkata and INS Kiltan. Next topic: Indian Submarines and Naval Ships: Project 75, INS Kalvari, INS Kolkata, INS Kiltan.

Key People and Terms

P15A Kolkata class destroyers
P15B Visakhapatnam class destroyers
P17 Shivalik class frigates
P17A Nilgiri class frigates
MDL Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
GRSE Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Vikramaditya commissioned 16 November 2013.
Vikrant commissioned 2 September 2022.
P15B first ship Visakhapatnam, November 2021.
P17 = Shivalik class; P17A = Nilgiri class.
Vikrant built by Cochin Shipyard.

Do Not Confuse With

P15A and P15B Kolkata class versus Visakhapatnam class
P17 and P17A Shivalik versus Nilgiri frigates
Vikrant and Vikramaditya Indigenous versus Russian origin

Memory Hook

Fifteen-A is Kolkata, fifteen-B Visakhapatnam; seventeen is Shivalik, seventeen-A Nilgiri.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for class names, project numbers and builders. These points help.

Fleet Carriers and escorts
Indigenisation Indian yards
Gaps Numbers

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the progress in indigenous warship building in India with reference to carriers, destroyers and frigates.”

How to Answer

Carriers Vikrant.
Destroyers P15A and P15B.
Frigates P17, P17A.
Gaps Timelines.

GS Relevance

Prelims: names of classes and projects, shipyards, commissioning, carriers. GS Paper 3: defence, maritime security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier?

INS Vikrant, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kerala, is India's first indigenous aircraft carrier. It was launched in 2013 and commissioned on 2 September 2022, with a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes and a very high share of indigenous material. It operates MiG-29K fighters and helicopters.

What is the Visakhapatnam class?

The Visakhapatnam class, Project 15B, comprises four stealth guided missile destroyers built by Mazagon Dock: Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat. They displace about 7,400 tonnes, carry BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, and are an improvement on the Kolkata class of Project 15A.

What is Project 17A?

Project 17A is a programme for seven stealth guided missile frigates of the Nilgiri class, an improvement on the Shivalik class of Project 17. Four are built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai and three at Garden Reach in Kolkata. INS Nilgiri, the lead ship, was commissioned in January 2025.

Which was India's earlier aircraft carrier?

INS Viraat, a former British ship called HMS Hermes, was India's carrier from 1987 until 2017. INS Vikramaditya, a former Russian ship, joined in 2013 and was followed by INS Vikrant in 2022, so India has two carriers at present.

Who builds warships in India?

Major warship builders are Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, Goa Shipyard and some private yards. They are public sector firms under the Ministry of Defence, except for the private ones.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 INS Vikrant was built at Cochin Shipyard.

True

Commissioned in 2022.

2 INS Vikramaditya was built in India.

False

It is a modified Russian ship.

3 Visakhapatnam class belongs to Project 15B.