The Nilgiri-class frigates, officially designated as the Project-17 Alpha frigates (P-17A), are presently under construction by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.
Designed as versatile frigates with stealth capabilities, advanced weaponry, sensors, and a high level of automation, the Project 17A frigates are intended for a diverse range of missions, encompassing anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and electronic warfare.
Design Features
Drawing inspiration from the Shivalik-class frigates, the Project 17A frigates incorporate several enhancements, including:
- Redesigned hull and superstructure with a diminished radar cross-section (RCS)
- An integrated mast
- A new combat management system
- A modern air search radar
- An advanced electronic warfare system
Specifications
The key specifications of the Project 17A frigates are as follows:
- Displacement: 6,670 tonnes (7,352 tons)
- Length: 149.6 meters (491 ft)
- Beam: 17.8 meters (58 ft)
- Draft: 5.22 meters (17 ft 1 in)
- Propulsion: CODAG, 2 x MAN Diesel 12V28/33D STC (6,000 kW each) + 2 x General Electric LM2500+
- Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
- Range: 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 16–18 knots (30–33 km/h; 19–21 mph)
- Complement: 226
Armament
The armament of the Project 17A frigates includes:
- 1 x 127 mm (50 in) OTO Melara Super Rapido naval gun
- 2 x 4-barrel AK-630M close-in weapon systems
- 1 x 24-cell vertical launch system for Barak 8 missiles
- 4 x single-arm launchers for BrahMos missiles
- 2 x triple-barrel torpedo launchers for torpedoes
Sensors and Countermeasures
The frigates are equipped with advanced sensors and countermeasure systems, such as:
- IAI EL/M-2248 MF-STAR S-Band AESA radar
- Indra LTR-25 "Lanza" L-Band surveillance radar
- NECI WHR-NS radar
- BEL ESM/ECM suite
- BEL Sonar
- 4 x S-APAR chaff launchers
- 4 x S-APAR decoy launchers
- 4 x EL/M-8222 jammer systems
Status
As of now, all seven Project 17A frigates have been launched, and the first ship, INS Nilgiri, was commissioned in July 2019. The seven ships of the Project 17A class are being built by two shipyards: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). The following table shows the delivery status of each ship:
| Ship Name | Builder | Date Launched | Expected Commissioning Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| INS Nilgiri | MDL | September 25, 2019 | July 2, 2021 |
| INS Himgiri | MDL | December 18, 2019 | December 22, 2022 |
| INS Udaygiri | MDL | November 17, 2020 | September 21, 2023 |
| INS Dunagiri | GRSE | November 21, 2021 | July 2024 |
| INS Taragiri | GRSE | October 12, 2022 | December 2024 |
| INS Vindhyagiri | GRSE | August 17, 2023 | March 2025 |
| INS Mahendragiri | MDL | September 1, 2023 | June 2025 |
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