Visakhapatnam: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has arrived at the Eastern Naval Command to attend the commissioning of two frontline stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri. The ceremony on Tuesday will be a landmark moment for the Navy’s modernisation plans and for India’s growing ability to build complex warships at home.
Udaygiri and Himgiri: INS’s twin stealth frigates
The ships belong to the Navy’s new Project 17A line, which follows on from the Shivalik class already in service. They come with sharper stealth features, upgraded sensors and a stronger weapons package, allowing them to take on a wide range of tasks at sea – from escort duties to full combat operations in deep waters.
Tomorrow, 26th August, I shall be in Visakhapatnam to attend the Commissioning Ceremony of the latest state of the art Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri.
This will be the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants, constructed at two… pic.twitter.com/taFYhVkFxq
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 25, 2025
From the shipyards of Mumbai and Kolkata
What makes this induction special is that the two frigates were built at different shipyards but will join the fleet on the same day. Udaygiri was put together at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, while Himgiri was built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. Udaygiri also marks a milestone, being the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, which has been shaping indigenous designs for over five decades.
Heavier, stealthier and combat-ready
Weighing about 6,700 tonnes, the Project 17A ships are bigger and stealthier than their predecessors. Each carries supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun and layered close-in weapon systems. Together, these features give them a strong edge in combat and significantly raise the Navy’s ability to safeguard India’s interests at sea.
Towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Driving self-reliance in defence
The frigates also showcase India’s expanding defence industry. More than 200 MSMEs were involved in their construction, creating thousands of jobs. With nearly three-quarters of the systems built locally, the programme reflects the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision of self-reliance in defence.
Once commissioned, both ships will be part of the Eastern Fleet, further strengthening India’s presence across the Indian Ocean Region.