Mahendragiri: ‘Mighty majestic matchless’: The stealth frigates redefining India’s maritime power | India News

The Indian Navy received its sixth Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigate, INS Mahendragiri, on Saturday as defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the indigenously built warship at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, further strengthening the country’s maritime combat capabilities.“There was a time when we used to look towards other countries for our defence needs. Today, we are manufacturing warships in our own shipyards with the help of our own people”, said defence minister Rajnath Singh as he mentioned the commissioning of six frontline frigates within the past one-and-a-half years.The defence minister emphasised the importance of a capable and responsive navy, highlighting the navy’s response to developments in the Middle East.“Following the outbreak of conflict in West Asia, the Indian Navy, through ‘Operation Urja Suraksha’, safely escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying essential cargo worth over Rs 9,000 crore. This demonstrates that our Navy has emerged not merely as a fighting force but as a robust guardian of India’s economic interests,” he said.

Project 17A

Project 17A is the navy’s programme to build seven indigenous multi-mission stealth frigates, called the Nilgiri class, as a follow-on to the earlier Project 17 Shivalik-class frigates.Compared with the Shivalik class, the Project 17A frigates feature improved stealth characteristics, greater automation, enhanced survivability and more advanced sensors and weapons.The deal, worth around Rs 45,000 crore, is one of the largest single contracts for warship construction in India.The ships are designed by the Directorate of Naval Design, a specialised unit within the ministry of defence, and built by two public-sector shipyards: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) in Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. Four frigates are being constructed at MDL and the other three at GRSE.

According to the ministry of defence, more than 75 per cent of the content used in the ships is indigenous, and over 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are involved in providing systems and components.

The seven frigates

A frigate is a modern warship that is larger than a corvette and smaller than a destroyer, typically used for anti-submarine warfare, long-range patrol and anti‑air roles.In today’s high-threat environment caused by unfriendly developments in the Indo-Pacific, stealth frigates have a relevant role to play. Their low radar signature and advanced sensors make them harder to detect, allowing effective operations against sophisticated adversaries.

1. INS Nilgiri

Constructed by MDL and commissioned on January 15, 2025, Indian Navy Ship Nilgiri was the first frigate built under the project. It reflects the next generation of indigenous frigates, with improved features for survivability, seakeeping, and stealth, compared to the Shivaliks.

2. INS Udaygiri

Being the hundredth warship designed by the navy’s Warship Design Bureau, Udaygiri was commissioned on August 26, 2025.

3. INS Himgiri

Constructed by GRSE in Kolkata, Himgiri was commissioned alongside INS Udaygiri at the Visakhapatnam naval base.

4. INS Taragiri

The fourth Nilgiri-class frigate, Taragiri, was commissioned on April 3, 2026.

5. INS Dunagiri (F 36)

The fifth ship under 17A, and the second built by GRSE, INS Daunagiri, was commissioned on 21 June, 2026.

6. INS Mahendragiri

Latest in the armada of stealth frigates, and the last constructed by MDL for the project, is the INS Mahendragiri. It is also the first warship to bear this name, among those named after decommissioned frigates.

7. INS Vindhyagiri

Being developed by GRSE, INS Vindhyagiri is the final frigate waiting to be commissioned under the project. It is currently undergoing final outfitting and trials ahead of its commissioning into the navy. Vindhyagiri was launched on August 17, 2023, in Kolkata, by President Droupadi Murmu.

Specifications

Stealth frigates built under Project 17A share the same basic design, measuring 149 metres in length with a full-load displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes. Powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, they can achieve speeds of up to 28-30 knots. Their redesigned hull has enhanced stealth features and improved survivability compared with the earlier Project 17 Shivalik-class frigates.The Nilgiri-class frigates are nearly five per cent larger than the Shivalik class, yet feature a sleeker design with a reduced radar cross-section.They are equipped with a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and indigenously developed advanced weapons and sensors.

Each frigate features a flight deck and an enclosed hangar capable of accommodating up to two medium-sized helicopters, including the HAL Dhruv, Sea King Mk 42B, and MH-60R Seahawk, enabling it to undertake extensive anti-submarine warfare and maritime reconnaissance operations.The frigates are equipped with missile systems, including the eight indigenous BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and the Barak-8 surface-to-air missile system, jointly developed by India and Israel. The Project 17A stealth frigates are fitted with a Vertical Launch System (VLS), providing advanced 360-degree protection against aerial threats such as enemy aircraft, drones, helicopters, and incoming anti-ship missiles.They are also armed with rocket launchers, anti-submarine torpedoes, a BrahMos supersonic surface-to-surface missile system, a Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a 76 mm gun, and a combination of 30 mm and 12.7 mm weapon systems for rapid close-range engagements.According to the ministry of defence, while being capable of anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, INS Mahendragiri is equally capable of undertaking maritime security operations, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.

Arming the eastern front

India’s naval strategy has been historically shaped to counter the Pakistani threat on the Western Front, leading to heavier deployment of warships in the Arabian Sea. However, there has been a steady deployment of all the currently commissioned 17A frigates to the eastern naval front, possibly suggesting a deliberate strategic shift in focus towards the broader Indo-Pacific region.According to Observer Research Foundation, there exists a gap between India’s maritime ambition and material reality due to delays in critical acquisition programs, such as submarines under Project- 75(I), leaving the Eastern Naval Command under immense pressure amid increasing Chinese presence in the region.Additionally, ORF reports the rising number of Chinese “Dual-Use Research Vessels,” travelling across the Bay of Bengal and docking in ports like Sri Lanka’s Hambantota. China claims they are for the purpose of scientific research, while using them to spy on missile test ranges in Odisha.The ships also gather key oceanographic data, such as salinity and thermal layers, getting a know-how of the oceanic conditions, which is handy during submarine warfare.By placing these stealth frigates under the eastern fleet, the Navy can effectively strengthen patrol presence, escort duties, anti-submarine warfare readiness and maritime surveillance in the waters.Moreover, deployment near Andaman and Nicobar islands keeps them in proximity to the Strait of Malacca, one of the most critical trade chokepoints connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans. A substantial share of China’s trade and energy imports transits through these sea lanes, making their uninterrupted access a strategic necessity for Beijing.A capable Indian Navy with a credible presence in the eastern Indian Ocean strengthens India’s ability to monitor key maritime approaches, deter hostile activity and contribute to a stable regional security environment.Before the commissioning of Mahendragiri, the defence minister addressed the sailors at the Visakhapatnam naval base on Friday.“Several powers seek to expand their influence in our neighbourhood and establish a stronger presence”, he said.“India, as the largest power in this region, is also its greatest guarantor of peace and stability. For us, the Indian Ocean is like our own courtyard, and protecting it is our responsibility”, he added.

Blue water navy

India is a blue-water navy capable of operating across the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific. Beyond defending the country’s coastline, the Indian Navy is increasingly tasked with protecting sea lines of communication, maintaining a sustained presence in strategically important waters, safeguarding India’s maritime interests and responding to contingencies far from home shores.At the same time, New Delhi has steadily expanded its role as the preferred security partner for countries across the Indian Ocean Region. Through initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the more recent MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across Regions), India has sought to promote collaborative maritime security by conducting joint exercises, coordinated patrols, information sharing, capacity building, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and training personnel from friendly foreign navies.These efforts have reinforced the Indian Navy’s image as both a reliable first responder during regional crises and a trusted maritime partner committed to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.Stealth frigates such as those under Project 17A are central to this vision. Designed for anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, they can operate independently or as part of larger carrier and expeditionary task groups, extending the Navy’s reach while strengthening maritime surveillance, escort operations and deterrence across the region.Their induction also forms part of a wider naval modernisation programme that includes Project 15B guided-missile destroyers, the Project 75 and Project 75(I) submarine programmes, next-generation missile vessels and future indigenous aircraft carrier plans. Building on the technological and operational experience gained from the Nilgiri class, the Navy is now expected to advance towards Project 17B, the next generation of indigenous stealth frigates and the next step in India’s long-term maritime capability development.