Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that the indigenous warship ‘Mahendragiri’ is ‘combat-ready’ to protect India’s maritime interests. He will attend its commissioning ceremony in Visakhapatnam tomorrow. It is the sixth stealth frigate of Project 17A.
New Delhi [भारत]July 10 (ANI): Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built state-of-the-art warship ‘Mahendragiri’ is ‘combat-ready’ to protect India’s maritime interests. He will attend the commissioning ceremony of the warship in Visakhapatnam tomorrow. Singh reached Visakhapatnam this evening. Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan welcomed him.
‘Proof of self-reliant India’
Earlier, in a post on Twitter, Singh described the commissioning of the indigenously built warship as a proud moment for the country and the Indian Navy. “Going to Visakhapatnam for the commissioning ceremony of the sixth Project 17A Stealth Frigate, Mahendragiri, on July 11, 2026, to witness a proud moment for our country and the Indian Navy,” Singh wrote. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/2075518967372726284
The Defense Minister said that this indigenously designed and built state-of-the-art warship is a testament to the vision of self-reliant India. “This indigenously designed and built state-of-the-art warship is a testament to our self-reliant India vision and the incredible capabilities of our domestic defense industries and MSMEs,” the post read.
He further said, “Mahendragiri is battle-ready to defend India’s maritime interests and strengthen our resolve for a secure Indo-Pacific.”
Symbol of indigenous design and manufacturing
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range of the Eastern Ghats, the frigate is a symbol of resilience, strength and unwavering resolve. Being the first Indian naval warship to bear this name, Mahendragiri is truly unique. It is expected that this warship will create a distinctive legacy and add another chapter to India’s maritime history.
Designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, Mahendragiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A class of stealth frigates. The ship reflects India’s growing expertise in indigenous warship design and construction.
The commissioning of Mahendragiri is another important milestone in the successful execution of the Project 17A programme. As more frigates of this class join the fleet, they will continue to strengthen the combat capability of the Indian Navy as well as reinforce India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation. (ANI)
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