• Two multi-mission stealth frigates of Project 17A — INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri — were commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Naval Base, Visakhapatnam on August 26. 

• It was for the first time that two frontline surface combatants indigenously constructed by two different shipyards — Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai (INS Udaygiri) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata (INS Himgiri) — were commissioned simultaneously.

• Rajnath Singh said these warships will not only strengthen the security system and safeguard maritime interests, but will also assist in Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief missions.

Project 17A frigates

• Project 17A frigates are a follow-on class of the P17 (Shivalik Class) frigates with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors and platform management systems.

• The Navy had placed orders for seven stealth frigates, four of which are being developed by Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) and three by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

• P17A ships have been designed in-house by Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. Around 75 per cent of the orders for equipment and system of P17A ships are being placed on indigenous firms.

• The first ship of Project 17A, ‘Nilgiri’ built by MDL, was launched on September 28, 2019. 

• ‘Himgiri’, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata was launched on December 14, 2020.

• The third ship ‘Udaygiri’ under the project was launched on May 17, 2022. 

• ‘Dunagiri’, the fourth ship of P17A frigates, was launched in July 2022. It was named after a mountain range in Uttarakhand.

• ‘Taragiri’, named after a hill range in the Himalayas located at Garhwal, was the fifth ship of Project 17A frigates. It was launched in September 2022.

• ‘Vindhyagiri’, named after the mountain range in Karnataka, was the sixth ship of Project 17A frigates. It was launched in August 2023.

• ‘Mahendragiri’ is the last of the seven warships under Project 17A. It was launched in September 2023.

• Displacing about 6,700 tonnes, the P17A class frigates are roughly five per cent larger than their predecessor Shivalik-class frigates, incorporating a sleeker form with a reduced radar cross section.

• They incorporate improved stealth features, reduced radar signatures, advanced surveillance radars and electronic warfare suites, supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles and rapid-fire gun systems. 

Both frigates will join the Eastern Fleet

• INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri follow INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the successor class to Project 17.

• INS Udaygiri’s keel was laid on May 07, 2019 and the ship was launched on May 17, 2022. 

• INS Himgiri’s keel laid on November 10, 2018 and the ship was launched on December 14, 2020.

• These are the 100th and 101st warships designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy, and built in India. 

• Both these vessels incorporate significant improvements in design, stealth, weapon and sensors systems and are capable of executing full spectrum of maritime missions

• High indigenous content — exceeding 75 per cent — has been achieved through the participation of numerous MSMEs and the procurement of major weapons and sensors from Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers.

• In keeping with the Navy’s tradition of rechristening new ships after their illustrious predecessors, the new Udaygiri and Himgiri carry forward the proud names of earlier frigates that served the nation for decades. 

• The modern Udaygiri pays tribute to the erstwhile INS Udaygiri (F35), which was in commission from 1976 to 2007.

• Himgiri honours the erstwhile Himgiri (F34) that served from 1974 to 2005. 

• Both ships feature Combined Diesel or Gas propulsion plants and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System, enabling higher speeds and improved fuel efficiency.

• Both frigates will join the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command.

• The commissioning of Udaygiri and Himgiri will augment the Navy’s combat readiness and reaffirm India’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in warship design and construction.