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India Marks Navy Milestone with Dual Frigate Commissioning
On August 26, 2025, the Indian Navy reached a significant milestone by simultaneously commissioning two state-of-the-art Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates—INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34)—at Visakhapatnam’s Eastern Naval Command. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the ceremony, highlighting the strategic importance of bolstering India’s maritime posture in its eastern theatre.
A First in Naval History: Twin Inductions from Separate Shipyards
This landmark event marks the first time the Indian Navy inducted two major surface combatants built at different shipyards in a single ceremony. INS Udaygiri was crafted by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata—demonstrating the growing capacity and synergy within India’s defence shipbuilding sector.
Project 17A: A Leap in Capability and Design
Part of the advanced Nilgiri-class (Project 17A), these frigates are a direct evolution of the earlier Shivalik-class vessels. The new ships displace around 6,700 tonnes—about 5% larger than their predecessors—but feature sleeker profiles and significantly reduced radar cross-sections for enhanced stealth.
Powered by agile CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) propulsion systems and managed via an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), these ships are built for endurance, speed, and precise maneuverability.
Indigenous Strength and Self-Reliance
Udaygiri and Himgiri embody India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision, being built with approximately 75% indigenous content, supported by over 200 MSMEs. These projects have catalyzed an ecosystem that provided around 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs.
INS Udaygiri also holds the distinction of being the 100th warship designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB)—a notable benchmark in decades of indigenous naval engineering.
Armament & Combat Systems: Ready for Multi-Domain Operations
The new frigates are outfitted with advanced weapon suites tailored for multi-domain maritime warfare:
- Supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, including BrahMos cruise missiles on Himgiri
- Medium-range surface-to-air missiles, such as Barak 8 systems
- A 76 mm naval gun, 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems (CIWS) for layered defense
- Anti-submarine warfare systems—torpedoes and sensors for detecting and neutralizing underwater threats
Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, including MF-STAR AESA radar and HUMSA-NG sonar, these frigates also boast electronic warfare capabilities to detect, counter, and evade threats across air, surface, and subsurface domains.
Readiness Verified: Sea Trials and Modern Construction Methods
In keeping with high operational standards, both frigates completed rigorous sea trials, validating critical systems—hull integrity, propulsion, fire control, damage management, navigation, and communications—to ensure full combat readiness.
The innovative modular construction approach allowed Udaygiri to be delivered in just 37 months after launch, a testament to the efficacy and speed of India’s naval manufacturing process.
Strategic Significance: Strengthening India’s Blue-Water Profile
With the induction of these stealth frigates, India reinforces its blue-water navy ambitions—a capability to operate effectively across the deeper and extended reaches of the Indian Ocean Region.
These additions complement earlier 2025 inductions such as INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, INS Vaghsheer, INS Arnala, and INS Nistar, collectively enhancing the Navy’s operational depth and resilience.
Legacy, Continuity, and the Road Ahead
By reviving names from decommissioned predecessors, India pays tribute to its naval heritage. The new INS Udaygiri and Himgiri carry forward the legacies of their namesakes, melding tradition with modern might.
These ships will join the Eastern Fleet, significantly boosting India’s ability to secure its maritime frontier and project deterrence. Looking ahead, the full Project 17A fleet of seven frigates is expected to be commissioned between 2024 and 2027, with future expansion under Project 17B and enhancements to come.
Conclusion
The simultaneous commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri is more than a ceremony—it’s a statement of India’s strategic intent and industrial progress. Designed and built on home soil, armed with cutting-edge systems, and standing on the legacy of past vessels, these frigates herald a new chapter in maritime self-reliance.
As India continues to expand and modernize its naval forces, the Indian Ocean will increasingly reflect the presence of indigenously built warships ready to guard the nation’s maritime interests—locally designed, locally built, and globally capable.
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