Indian Navy creates history, inducts stealth frigates Udaygiri, Himgiri simultaneously under Project 17A

Both frigates are follow-on vessels of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) and incorporate major improvements in stealth, design, weapons, and sensors, enabling them to undertake the full spectrum of maritime missions in blue-water conditions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the commissioning of two multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

The two warships, part of the Navy’s state-of-the-art Project 17A, mark the first instance of frontline surface combatants built at two different shipyards -- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata -- being commissioned simultaneously.

Highlighting the milestone, the Navy said on X, “Two state-of-the-art combatant platforms join the Indian Navy fleet, fortifying India’s strength at sea. RM Rajnath Singh will preside over this momentous ceremony.”

Tomorrow, 26th August, I shall be in Visakhapatnam to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of the latest state of the art Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri.

This will be the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants, constructed at two… pic.twitter.com/taFYhVkFxq — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 25, 2025

Both frigates are follow-on vessels of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) and incorporate major improvements in stealth, design, weapons, and sensors, enabling them to undertake the full spectrum of maritime missions in blue-water conditions.

>> INS Udaygiri, the second ship of Project 17A, was constructed by MDL. It also became the fastest of its class to be delivered post-launch, thanks to modular construction methods.

⚓ INS Udaygiri — United. Ultimate. Unbeatable. Stealth in design, strength in capability, and spirit in her crew. Astride tradition and technology, a new era begins. 🎥 Watch the journey of #INSUdaygiri. Commissioning on 26 Aug 2025, #Visakhapatnam. 🌊@IndianNavy@IN_WNC… pic.twitter.com/z5N3ttvKhF — IN (@IndiannavyMedia) August 24, 2025

>> INS Himgiri, the first P17A ship from GRSE, represents a generational leap in Indian warship design and construction.

⚓ 🏔️ #INSHimgiri : अदृश्यम अजयम ⚓

Forged in India. Stealth in design. Strength in every frame. The next-generation frigate of #IndianNavy ready to set sail into service. 🗓️Commissioning on 26 August 2025 at Visakhapatnam. 🌊 A stride towards #ViksitBharat2047.@IndianNavy… pic.twitter.com/pMELy2nofR — IN (@IndiannavyMedia) August 22, 2025

Displacing around 6,700 tonnes, the frigates are about 5% larger than the Shivalik-class, with enhanced stealth features, reduced radar cross-section, and advanced combat systems. Their weapons package includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, and close-in weapon systems.

Notably, INS Udaygiri also becomes the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), marking a major milestone in five decades of indigenous design.

The project reflects the scale of India’s defence industrial ecosystem, involving over 200 MSMEs and generating nearly 14,000 direct and indirect jobs. With about 75% indigenous content, the frigates advance the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision in defence manufacturing.

Upon commissioning, the ships will be deployed with the Eastern Fleet, significantly boosting the Navy’s combat readiness and reinforcing India’s ability to protect its strategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean Region.