The Sukanya class have large hulls, although they are lightly armed since they are utilized primarily for offshore patrol of India's exclusive economic zone. However, they are capable of being heavily armed and upgraded to light frigates should the need arise. Two vessels of the class, and have been used as test beds for installation of the Dhanush ship-based ballistic missile launch system. This includes the stabilization platform for enabling the ships to launch the missiles in stormy conditions.[1]
was sold to Sri Lanka and renamed . She was the former flagship of the Sri Lanka Navy and obtained several remarkable naval victories against the naval branch (Sea Tigers) of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P50 | Korea Tacoma | 1989 | 31 August 1989[2] | Mumbai | Active | ||
| P51 | 1989 | 25 January 1990 | |||||
| P52 | 22 August 1990 | 4 April 1991 | |||||
| P53 | Hindustan Shipyard Limited | 23 May 1989 | 27 November 1990 | Visakhapatnam | |||
| P55 | 22 August 1990 | 27 October 1991 | Kochi | ||||
| P56 | 25 October 1991 | 3 November 1993 | |||||
| P54 | Hindustan Shipyard Limited | 16 October 1989 | 8 October 1991 | Active. Erstwhile, sold to Sri Lanka Navy in 2000.[3] |