The Indian Navy has formally included the indigenously developed stealth frigate ‘INS Mahendragiri’ into its Eastern Fleet during a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam, which was led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on July 11.
‘INS Mahendragiri’ stands as the sixth vessel of the Project 17A class of indigenous stealth frigates to be integrated into the fleet.
This frigate is the fourth vessel of its kind constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) in Mumbai.
Details about Project 17A Frigates
The Project 17A frigates serve as a subsequent generation of the P17 (Shivalik Class) frigates, showcasing enhanced stealth capabilities, sophisticated weaponry, advanced sensors, and platform management systems.
The Indian Navy has commissioned a total of seven stealth frigates, with four being produced by Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and supervised by the Warship Overseeing Team (Mumbai), the P17A frigates signify a notable advancement in indigenous naval design, stealth technology, survivability, and combat efficiency.
Approximately 75 percent of the equipment and systems for the P17A ships are sourced from domestic manufacturers.
The initial ship of Project 17A, ‘Nilgiri,’ constructed by MDL, was launched on September 28, 2019, and subsequently commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 15, 2025.
‘Himgiri,’ developed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, was launched on December 14, 2020, while the third vessel, ‘Udaygiri,’ was launched on May 17, 2022. Both of these stealth frigates were inducted into the Indian Navy on August 26, 2025.
‘Dunagiri,’ launched in July 2022 and named after a mountain range in Uttarakhand, was commissioned on June 22, 2026. ‘Taragiri,’ which takes its name from a hill range in the Himalayas, was launched in September 2022 and was commissioned on April 3, 2026. ‘Vindhyagiri,’ named after a mountain range in Karnataka, was launched in August 2023.
Displacing around 6,700 tonnes, the P17A class frigates are approximately 5 percent larger than their Shivalik-class predecessors, featuring a more streamlined design and a reduced radar cross-section.
They are equipped with improved stealth technology, lower radar signatures, advanced surveillance systems, electronic warfare capabilities, supersonic surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, as well as rapid-fire gun systems.
These vessels utilize Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems, incorporating a diesel engine and a gas turbine that operate a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, alongside a modern Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
Highlights of INS Mahendragiri
‘INS Mahendragiri’ was launched in September 2023 and is named after a peak in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha.
The frigate represents the collaborative efforts of over 200 Indian firms, including many MSMEs, showcasing India’s expanding defense manufacturing capabilities.
It boasts advanced stealth features, a combined diesel or gas propulsion system, an Integrated Platform Management System, and state-of-the-art indigenous combat systems.
‘INS Mahendragiri’ is outfitted with a sophisticated array of indigenous weapons, sensors, and electronic warfare systems, allowing it to conduct anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine operations effectively.
Furthermore, the ship is capable of performing maritime security tasks, search and rescue missions, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and can sustain deployments throughout the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.
