Navy to commission indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri on July 11
The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth indigenous stealth frigate under the Project 17A programme, at Visakhapatnam on July 11
The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth indigenous stealth frigate under the Project 17A programme, at Visakhapatnam on July 11, marking another milestone in India's efforts to strengthen its indigenous warship-building capabilities and maritime combat strength. Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri is the sixth vessel in the Project 17A class of advanced stealth frigates. The warship has been developed with more than 75 per cent indigenous content, reflecting the government's push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Read Full Story Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate is the first Indian Naval warship to bear the name. The Navy said the name symbolises resilience, strength and unwavering resolve, and the vessel is expected to carry forward a distinguished legacy in India's maritime history. The frigate incorporates advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation. It is powered by a modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with long endurance across a wide range of maritime missions.
EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED INDIGENOUS WEAPONS INS Mahendragiri is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, electronic warfare capabilities, anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated Combat Management System. The warship is capable of undertaking anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, while also supporting maritime security, search and rescue missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and sustained presence operations. According to the Navy, the construction of the frigate involved a wide network of Indian industries, including numerous micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to employment generation and strengthening the country's defence industrial ecosystem.
The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri marks another key milestone in the Project 17A programme, under which successive stealth frigates are being inducted to modernise the Navy's fleet. Officials said the warship would significantly enhance India's maritime capabilities and reinforce its role as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region while contributing to peace, stability and security across the Indo-Pacific. Ends
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