Indian Navy to equip upcoming Project-17B Frigates with 1,000 km range ITCM

Source : IgMp Bureau

Project-17A (Nilgiri class) Frigate design, on which Project-17B Frigates will be based on

The Indian Navy is poised to achieve a significant milestone with its upcoming Project-17B frigates, which are set to become the first Indian warships equipped with the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) for land attack capabilities. This development marks a pivotal advancement in India’s naval warfare strategy, enhancing the country’s ability to project power and maintain regional stability. The integration of the ITCM into the P-17B frigates underscores India’s growing prowess in developing sophisticated defense technologies, aligning with the country's broader goals of self-reliance and military modernization.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, gave approval for seven more advanced stealth frigates under the Project-17 Bravo (B), a follow-on of currently under construction Project-17A Nilgiri class Frigates, on 3rd September 2024, that is expected to cost around Rs 70,000 crore with each one of around 8000 tonnes of displacement. Project-17B comes after Project-17 (Shivalik) and Project-17A (Nilgiri) Frigates classes.

Indian Navy Project-17 Shivalik class Frigates, INS Sahyadri (F49) [Image Credit : Getty Image]

Under P-17 three Shivalik Class Frigates were constructed by Mazgaon Dockyard Shipbuilders Limited followed by the P-17 Alpha (A) frigates (Nilgiri Class) with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems. Seven P-17A frigates are under various stages of construction at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) which will have multidimensional capabilities to destroy enemies from sea, sky, and underwater.

The P-17B vessels are being designed with enhanced stealth features, advanced weaponry, and modern sensor systems to counter a variety of threats, ranging from surface and aerial targets to underwater adversaries. What sets these frigates apart, however, is their expected ability to carry and launch the ITCM, a state-of-the-art cruise missile developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The ITCM, based on the Nirbhay missile platform, is designed to provide long-range precision strike capabilities, giving the Indian Navy a significant boost in terms of offensive operations.

The inclusion of the ITCM in the Project-17B frigates signifies a strategic shift in India’s naval doctrine, which has traditionally focused on defensive capabilities and coastal protection. By equipping its warships with land attack cruise missiles, India is expanding its operational reach, allowing the Navy to strike land-based targets from a considerable distance, far beyond its coastal waters. This capability will enable the Indian Navy to play a more assertive role in regional conflicts and power projection, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where India faces growing competition from other powers, notably China.

First ship of the Project-17A Nilgiri class Frigates, INS Nilgiri during sea trials 

The ITCM represents a major leap in India’s cruise missile technology. The Nirbhay missile, which serves as the foundation for the ITCM, is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile capable of flying at low altitudes to evade enemy radar. With a range of over 1,000 kilometers, the Nirbhay missile is designed to carry a variety of warheads, including conventional and nuclear payloads, making it a versatile weapon for both tactical and strategic missions. The ITCM variant, however, is expected to incorporate several key enhancements, including improved propulsion systems, guidance technology, and overall reliability, further augmenting its effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios.

The addition of land attack capabilities to the Indian Navy’s arsenal will also complement India’s existing tri-service missile systems, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which is already deployed on several Indian Navy platforms. While the BrahMos is known for its speed and precision in striking both sea and land targets, the ITCM offers a different set of advantages, particularly its extended range and potential to loiter over target areas, providing real-time flexibility to commanders in selecting and engaging targets. This dual capability, with both BrahMos and ITCM, ensures that the Indian Navy has a wide range of options when it comes to addressing various threat scenarios.

The decision to equip the P-17B frigates with ITCMs aligns with India’s broader geopolitical and security objectives. India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as a critical area of strategic interest, given the region’s importance to global maritime trade and the presence of key sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The ability to project power in this region is seen as essential to maintaining a favorable security environment, especially in light of China’s growing presence in the IOR through its “String of Pearls” strategy and the construction of naval facilities in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Djibouti.

By equipping its new frigates with advanced land attack capabilities, India is signaling its intent to safeguard its interests and deter potential adversaries. The ITCM’s ability to strike targets deep within enemy territory would enable the Indian Navy to carry out preemptive strikes in the event of hostilities, thereby disrupting enemy operations before they reach India’s shores. This capability would be particularly valuable in the context of conflicts with nations possessing long-range ballistic missile systems or other forms of strategic weapons, as it would allow India to neutralize such threats early in a conflict.

1,000 km+ range Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), named 'Nirbhay' earlier

Moreover, the Project-17B frigates, with their advanced stealth features and ITCM armament, will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s role in multinational operations, particularly in terms of maritime security and anti-piracy missions. The ability to conduct precision land strikes will allow India to contribute more effectively to global efforts aimed at stabilizing conflict zones, especially in regions like the Middle East and Africa, where piracy and insurgency remain persistent challenges. India’s participation in these missions would not only bolster its international standing but also cement its role as a security provider in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

In addition to their operational advantages, the P-17B frigates equipped with ITCMs represent a significant achievement for India’s defense industrial base. The development of the ITCM showcases the progress India has made in achieving self-reliance in critical defense technologies, a key goal of the government’s “Make in India” initiative. By developing indigenous missile systems and integrating them into domestically built warships, India is reducing its dependence on foreign suppliers for advanced military hardware. This not only strengthens India’s defense capabilities but also provides a boost to the domestic defense industry, creating jobs and spurring technological innovation.

The successful integration of the ITCM into the P-17B frigates will likely pave the way for its deployment on other naval platforms as well. India’s aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines could all benefit from the addition of land attack cruise missiles, further enhancing the Navy’s ability to conduct joint operations and respond to a variety of security challenges. As India continues to modernize its naval forces, the development of multi-role platforms with advanced weaponry will be crucial to maintaining a credible deterrent against potential adversaries and ensuring the country’s long-term security in an increasingly complex strategic environment.

The decision to arm the P-17B frigates with the ITCM is not only a technological achievement but also a clear indication of India’s evolving maritime strategy. The Indian Navy is no longer confined to a primarily defensive posture focused on coastal protection. Instead, it is transforming into a blue-water navy capable of projecting power and safeguarding India’s interests in far-flung regions. This transformation is essential in light of the changing dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, where the balance of power is constantly shifting, and new threats continue to emerge.

In conclusion, the Indian Navy’s upcoming Project-17B frigates equipped with the ITCM for land attack capability represent a major step forward in India’s quest to modernize its military forces and enhance its strategic capabilities. The integration of indigenous cruise missile technology into advanced naval platforms underscores India’s growing defense industrial base and its determination to achieve self-reliance in critical defense technologies. Moreover, the addition of land attack capabilities to the Navy’s arsenal will enable India to play a more assertive role in regional security, projecting power and deterring potential adversaries in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced or no information from this article should be used without written permission of theigmp.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copyright strikes, if we find same informations or the entire article without our permission, we will take necessary action.