In the wake of the ever expanding Chinese deployments in the Indian Ocean Region to Pakistan’s ongoing naval modernisation, Indian Navy is steadily building a fleet designed not just to defend the coastline, but to dominate the maritime battlespace.
In another major boost to India’s blue-water ambitions and indigenous defence capability, the Navy has now received INS Mahendragiri, a next-generation stealth frigate packed with advanced weapons, sensors, and multi-domain combat capabilities.
The indigenous stealth frigate, equipped with a potent weapon system and cutting-edge sensor suite, is the sixth ship of Nilgiri-class (Project 17A). It was delivered to the Indian Navy on April 30 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), Mumbai.
The delivery marks a "significant milestone" in achieving self-reliance in warship design and construction, the officials said.
"Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms designed to address current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain. This state-of-the-art frigate reflects a quantum leap in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation, and survivability, and stands as an admirable symbol of Aatmanirbharta in warship building," the defence ministry said in a statement.
Mahendragiri—Yard 12654—is the fourth ship of this class built at MDSL.
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), P17A frigates reflect a "generational leap" in indigenous ship design, stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite as compared to the P17 (Shivalik-class), they said.
"These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising a diesel engine and a gas turbine that drive a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The potent weapon and sensor suite comprises anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems," the statement said.
Mahendragiri is the sixth P17A ship to be delivered to the Navy in the span of less than 17 months from the delivery of the first P17A frigate (Nilgiri) by MDSL on December 20, 2024.
Delivery of Mahendragiri showcases the design, shipbuilding, and engineering prowess of the nation, and reflects the Navy's unrelenting focus on Aatmanirbharta in both ship design and shipbuilding, the Indian Navy officials said.