Indian Navy Set to Induct Advanced Stealth Frigates INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri on August 26
The Indian Navy is set to commission two frontline stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34), on August 26 in Visakhapatnam. This event marks the first occasion where major surface combatants built by different Indian shipyards are inducted jointly.
INS Udaygiri, the second vessel of the Project 17A class, has been built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Meanwhile, INS Himgiri, the first of the same class from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, will also be added to the naval fleet.
The Project 17A frigates, enhanced versions of the Shivalik-class, have a displacement of approximately 6,700 tons and incorporate stealth technology to minimize radar visibility. They are equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which utilizes both diesel engines and gas turbines, and are managed via an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
These frigates are armed with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm main gun, 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems, and feature advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Notably, INS Udaygiri is the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
The construction of these ships involved more than 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), generating around 4,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs. They have undergone extensive sea trials, which tested machinery, navigation systems, fire safety, and damage control mechanisms.
This achievement aligns with the government’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives and joins other naval platforms set to be commissioned in 2025, such as INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, INS Vaghsheer, INS Arnala, and INS Nistar.
