Dual warship induction underlines India’s shipbuilding prowess and strengthens maritime readiness in the Indian Ocean Region
India Adds Two Powerful Nilgiri-Class Stealth Frigates to Its Fleet
In a significant step toward enhancing maritime strength and indigenous defence manufacturing, the Indian Navy commissioned two state-of-the-art Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, on Tuesday.
The commissioning ceremony was held in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking a historic moment as two major warships were inducted simultaneously for the first time — Himgiri, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, and Udaygiri, constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai.
Part of Project 17A – India’s Indigenous Naval Powerhouse
- Both frigates are part of the Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), aimed at building stealth guided-missile frigates with advanced technology.
- With the induction of INS Nilgiri earlier this year, India now boasts a three-frigate squadron, showcasing its growing industrial and technological maritime capability.
- These vessels are over 75% indigenously built, aligning with India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission.
Cutting-Edge Capabilities & Features
According to official statements:
- INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri come equipped with enhanced stealth features, modern weapon systems, and advanced sensor suites.
- They are designed to execute a wide range of maritime missions, including anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
- Each ship displaces about 6,700 tons, slightly larger than the previous Shivalik-class frigates, and features a sleeker design with a reduced radar cross-section.
Key Specs:
- Propulsion: Diesel engines + gas turbines, integrated management system
- Weapons:
- Supersonic surface-to-surface missiles
- Medium-range surface-to-air missiles
- 76 mm MR Gun
- 30 mm & 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems
- Advanced anti-submarine weapons
Fastest Delivery & Historic Milestone
- INS Udaygiri is the fastest ship in its class to be delivered post-launch, thanks to the modular construction techniques used by Indian shipyards.
- Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, Udaygiri is also the 100th ship created by this in-house design team.
Deployment & Strategic Impact
Following their commissioning, both frigates will join the Eastern Fleet, significantly strengthening India’s maritime surveillance and response capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region.
This dual induction is seen as a generational leap in Indian naval architecture and defence strategy.
