The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth indigenous stealth frigate under the Project 17A programme, at Visakhapatnam on July 11, marking another milestone in India’s indigenous warship-building capabilities and maritime defence preparedness.
The naval warship is named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats. Designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri showcases India’s growing expertise in the design and construction of advanced indigenous warships.
The stealth frigate incorporates advanced stealth features, enhanced survivability, reduced radar signature and a high degree of automation. It is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with extended endurance across a wide range of maritime missions.
With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, INS Mahendragiri reflects the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The construction of the warship involved a large network of Indian industries, including several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to employment generation while strengthening the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The frigate is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, electronic warfare capabilities, anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated Combat Management System. It is capable of undertaking anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, besides maritime security, power projection, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Search and Rescue (SAR) and sustained presence missions.
The commissioning of INS Mahendragiri marks another significant milestone in the Project 17A programme. As more frigates of the class join the Indian Navy, they are expected to further enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities while reinforcing India’s position as a leading indigenous warship-building nation.
The Navy said the induction of INS Mahendragiri would strengthen India’s role as the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region by safeguarding the country’s maritime interests and contributing to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Mission-ready from the outset, INS Mahendragiri is expected to serve as a force multiplier for the Indian Navy, living up to its motto, “Mighty–Majestic–Matchless.”
