The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest indigenous stealth frigate, Mahendragiri, on July 11, adding another advanced frontline warship to its growing fleet of home-built combat platforms.
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mahendragiri is the sixth frigate of the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A), developed for a wide range of maritime operations.
Mahendragiri is capable of undertaking anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, making it a versatile platform for modern naval operations.
According to the Navy, the warship is also suited for maritime security, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), search and rescue missions, and sustained operational deployments.
The frigate is equipped with an advanced mix of indigenous and modern weapon systems, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles.
It also features sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, comprehensive anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated combat management system.
Mahendragiri incorporates advanced stealth technologies designed to reduce its radar signature and improve battlefield survivability.
The warship also features a high degree of automation and is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations while offering exceptional endurance across the full spectrum of maritime missions, according to the Navy.
With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, Mahendragiri reflects the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.
The Navy said the construction of the warship involved a large network of Indian industries, including numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to employment generation and strengthening the country's defence industrial base.
Mahendragiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A Nilgiri-class frigates, which are equipped with a more advanced weapon and sensor suite than the earlier Shivalik-class (Project 17) warships.
The commissioning marks another milestone in the execution of the Project 17A programme, under which the Navy has progressively inducted INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri, INS Taragiri and INS Dunagiri into service.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate is expected to serve as a force multiplier for the Indian Navy, helping safeguard India's maritime interests and contributing to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
