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The Indian Navy on Saturday commissioned INS Mahendragiri, the sixth indigenously built Project 17A stealth frigate, into its Eastern Fleet, strengthening India’s blue-water combat capabilities and marking another milestone in the country’s drive towards defence self-reliance.
The commissioning ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who described the warship as a symbol of India’s growing indigenous shipbuilding capability and the rapid expansion of its naval-industrial ecosystem.
Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri carries over 75 per cent indigenous content and is capable of undertaking the full spectrum of maritime operations, including fleet air defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
Displacing about 6,670 tonnes and capable of speeds of up to 28 knots, the frigate is equipped to carry BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine weapons, torpedo launchers, an indigenous rocket launcher, an Integrated Anti-Submarine Defence System, electronic warfare suites and a close-in weapon system. It can also operate a multi-role helicopter and features advanced stealth characteristics, modern sensors and network-centric combat systems.
Calling the warship a “blue-water ship”, Rajnath Singh said it would safeguard India’s maritime interests not only along the coastline but also across the wider Indian Ocean Region.
The Defence Minister stressed that while artificial intelligence, drones, cyber warfare, hypersonic weapons and space-based capabilities are reshaping modern warfare, conventional military platforms remain indispensable.
“Future wars may be fought with Artificial Intelligence, but they will still be won by national resolve, trained soldiers and credible military power,” he said, citing Operation Sindoor as an example of the effective integration of advanced technologies with conventional military capabilities.
Highlighting the strategic importance of maritime security, Singh said India’s economic growth, energy security and global trade are closely linked to secure sea lanes. Reiterating India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, he said the Navy had emerged as a “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indo-Pacific through anti-piracy operations, humanitarian missions and evacuation efforts.
He also pointed to the Navy’s role during the recent West Asia crisis, stating that under Operation Urja Suraksha, it safely escorted 18 merchant ships carrying cargo worth over Rs 9,000 crore.
Navy Chief 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 shipbuilding timelines, with the period from launch to delivery nearly halved from 63 months to 31 months, while overall construction time has been cut from 95 months to 75 months, underscoring the increasing efficiency of India’s indigenous warship programme.
Team BharatShakti
