Indian Navy Commissions INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri Twin Stealth Frigates

Visakhapatnam, August 26, 2025 – The Indian Navy scripted history by commissioning two advanced Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), simultaneously at the Eastern Naval Command. This is the first time two frontline surface combatants built at different Indian shipyards have been inducted together, highlighting the country’s shipbuilding prowess and self-reliance drive.

A Tale of Two Shipyards

• INS Udaygiri was constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

• INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

MDL is building four ships of this class while GRSE is constructing three. The remaining vessels are scheduled to join the fleet by mid-2026. Both frigates will strengthen the Eastern Fleet, which already operates the three Shivalik-class frigates and the lead ship of the Nilgiri class, INS Nilgiri.

Indigenous Strength and Modern Design

These stealth frigates are 6,700-tonne multi-role warships, about 5% larger than the preceding Shivalik class. They feature a sleeker hull, reduced radar signature, modular construction techniques, and advanced stealth measures.

• INS Udaygiri was delivered in record time post-launch, becoming the quickest ship of her class, showcasing efficiency achieved through modular construction.

• She is also the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, a landmark achievement.

• Both ships have 75% indigenous content, with contributions from over 200 Indian MSMEs, creating thousands of jobs across the defence ecosystem.

Combat Power and Technology

The frigates are equipped for multi-dimensional warfare:

• Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) system using LM2500 gas turbines and diesel engines, controlled by an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).

• Weapons:

  • 8 × BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles

  • 32 × MRSAM surface-to-air missiles

  • 76 mm naval gun (Udaygiri carries the older BHEL–OTO Melara, Himgiri the upgraded Strales version)

  • 2 × 30 mm AK-630 CIWS

  • L&T triple torpedo launchers & indigenous rocket launchers

  • Multiple 12.7 mm guns

• Sensors:

  • MF-STAR AESA radar (partly made by BEL)

  • LANZA-N 3D radar from Indra Sistemas and Tata

  • BEL HUMSA-NG sonar

  • Advanced electronic warfare and intelligence systems

These capabilities make them among the most advanced frigates in the Indian Ocean Region.

Voices from the Ceremony

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared the induction a “picture of the realization of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” affirming that no future Indian Navy warships will be built overseas. He hailed the frigates as “floating F-35s” of the sea, reflecting their high-tech systems and combat capabilities.

Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Tripathi highlighted the frigates’ strategic importance, referencing Operation Sindoor, where the Navy’s swift deployment—including INS Vikrant—forced the Pakistan Navy to retreat and seek a cease of kinetic actions. He underlined that the new ships strengthen India’s ability to dominate maritime battlespace and ensure security in the Indian Ocean.

Project 17B

India is already preparing for the next step with Project 17B, a follow-on class of seven frigates valued at around ₹70,000 crore (~$8 billion). The order is expected to be split between MDL and GRSE, continuing the push for indigenous warship building.

The commissioning of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri is not just about adding two powerful frigates to the fleet. It is a strong statement of India’s naval self-reliance, indigenous design capability, and blue-water ambitions. These stealth titans, carrying the legacy of their namesakes, will guard India’s maritime frontiers and shape the future of its naval power projection.