New Delhi, July 6: The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth indigenous stealth frigate under the Project 17A programme, at Visakhapatnam on July 11, marking another milestone in India’s indigenous warship-building capability.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the warship is the first Indian Naval vessel to bear the name. Designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the frigate reflects India’s growing expertise in the design and construction of advanced naval platforms.
Equipped with advanced stealth features, reduced radar signature, enhanced survivability and a high degree of automation, INS Mahendragiri is powered by a modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with extended endurance across diverse maritime missions.
With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, the warship is a significant achievement under the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Its construction involved a wide network of Indian industries, including numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), strengthening the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem while generating employment.
INS Mahendragiri is armed with an advanced suite of indigenous and state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, sophisticated electronic warfare systems, anti-submarine warfare capabilities and an integrated Combat Management System.
The frigate is capable of undertaking anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations, besides maritime security missions, power projection, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Search and Rescue (SAR), and sustained deployment in the Indian Ocean Region.
The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri marks another important milestone in the successful implementation of the Project 17A programme. As more frigates of the class join the fleet, they are expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capability while reinforcing India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation.
The Navy said INS Mahendragiri will serve as a force multiplier in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and contribute to peace, stability and security across the Indo-Pacific region. The warship will sail under its motto, “Mighty–Majestic–Matchless.” (PIB)
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