The Indian Navy’s Project 17A frigate program faces significant delays and relies heavily on imported critical components, despite high indigenous content by value. Previous warship classes also suffered from design changes and incomplete deliveries. The author highlights issues with India's sensor grid and questions the strategic alignment of expanding a high-end frigate fleet. While defending sea lanes and addressing non-traditional threats justify some frigates, they are deemed overkill for piracy, and ineffective against submarines without premium sensors. Ultimately, India's naval investments appear out of step with actual threats, hampered by delays, an incomplete sensor network, and import dependency.