Indian Navy Commissions Indigenous Stealth Frigate INS Mahendragiri

Visakhapatnam, July 11: The Indian Navy on Saturday commissioned the indigenously built advanced stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri into its Eastern Fleet in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking another milestone in India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Built with over 75 per cent indigenous content, INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate to be inducted into the Navy in the last one-and-a-half years. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the warship is capable of undertaking fleet air defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Rajnath Singh described the frontline warship as a symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s commitment to building a technologically advanced and combat-ready Navy.

The 6,670-tonne frigate can achieve speeds of up to 28 knots and is equipped with advanced stealth features, modern sensors, network-centric combat systems, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine warfare systems, an embarked multi-role helicopter and can be armed with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

The Defence Minister said the vessel would strengthen India’s maritime security, extend its blue-water operational reach and reinforce its presence in the Indian Ocean Region.

Emphasising the evolving nature of warfare, Rajnath Singh said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, cyber warfare and unmanned systems are transforming battlefields, but conventional military capabilities remain the foundation of national defence. He reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in next-generation technologies while simultaneously strengthening conventional forces.

Highlighting the Indian Navy’s growing regional role, he said the force has earned recognition as the First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indo-Pacific through humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy operations and evacuation missions. He also referred to Operation Urja Suraksha, under which the Navy escorted 18 merchant vessels carrying cargo worth over ₹9,000 crore during the West Asia conflict.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said INS Mahendragiri reflects India’s growing maritime capability and technological self-reliance. He noted that the Project 17A programme has significantly reduced construction and delivery timelines, with the period from launch to delivery brought down from 63 months to 31 months.

Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate has been built with contributions from more than 200 Indian industries, including several MSMEs. The Navy said the warship will significantly enhance its operational capability and maritime reach after joining the Eastern Fleet.