Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
India on Saturday took another major step towards strengthening its maritime power and defence self-reliance with the commissioning of INS Mahendragiri, the sixth indigenously built Project 17A stealth frigate, into the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet. The frontline warship was commissioned during a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described it as a symbol of India's growing capabilities in indigenous defence manufacturing and warship construction.
Speaking at the ceremony, Singh said INS Mahendragiri reflected the country's rapid progress in naval design, advanced manufacturing and the timely delivery of sophisticated warships. "INS Mahendragiri is a symbol of our commitment to building a technologically advanced, combat-ready and self-reliant Navy," he said.
Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri is the sixth vessel under the Project 17A programme to be commissioned within a span of just 18 months. The class began with INS Nilgiri in January 2025, followed by INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri in August 2025, INS Taragiri in April 2026 and INS Dunagiri in June this year.
With an indigenous content of over 75 per cent, the 6,670-tonne stealth frigate is capable of undertaking a broad range of missions, including fleet air defence, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The warship can attain speeds of up to 28 knots and is equipped with a wide array of advanced weaponry, including BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems, anti-submarine warfare equipment and an embarked multi-role helicopter. It also incorporates modern stealth features, sophisticated sensors, network-centric combat systems, indigenous rocket and torpedo launchers, an Integrated Anti-Submarine Defence System, electronic warfare suites and a Close-In Weapon System.
Highlighting the vessel's strategic importance, the Defence Minister said INS Mahendragiri would substantially enhance India's capability to safeguard its maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
Singh said future wars may increasingly involve artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, but victories will continue to depend on national resolve, well-trained soldiers and strong conventional military capabilities. While warfare is evolving through AI, drones, cyber and space technologies, and hypersonic weapons, he said traditional military strength remains the foundation of national security, citing Operation Sindoor as an example of successfully integrating modern and conventional warfare.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the maritime domain, the Defence Minister said India's security and economic growth are closely tied to the seas, reaffirming the country's commitment to the SAGAR vision and its role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific. Referring to Operation Urja Suraksha, he said the Indian Navy safely escorted 18 merchant ships carrying cargo worth over Rs 9,000 crore amid tensions in West Asia, adding that the Navy has emerged as both a first responder and a preferred security partner in the region.
Singh also said indigenous warship construction strengthens not only India's defence capabilities but also its industrial base by boosting sectors such as steel, electronics, propulsion systems and precision engineering. He reiterated the government's commitment to making India a global shipbuilding hub through initiatives including Maritime India Vision 2030, the Maritime Development Fund and dedicated shipbuilding support schemes.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan described INS Mahendragiri as a landmark achievement in India's indigenous warship-building programme and a testament to the country's growing maritime capabilities. He said the Project 17A programme had significantly improved construction efficiency, reducing the launch-to-delivery timeline by nearly 50 per cent—from 63 months to just 31 months. The overall construction period has also been brought down by around 20 per cent, from 95 months to 75 months.
According to the Navy Chief, all major technical evaluations for INS Mahendragiri were successfully completed during a single sea trial, compared with the conventional requirement of five to seven trials for similar warships. He credited the accomplishment to the coordinated efforts of MDL, Indian manufacturers, MSMEs, naval oversight teams, testing agencies and the ship's crew.
Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, INS Mahendragiri symbolises strength, resilience and steadfastness. Carrying the motto "Mighty, Majestic, Matchless", the warship has been built with contributions from more than 200 Indian industries, including a large number of MSMEs.
The vessel incorporates advanced stealth technologies, a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, an Integrated Platform Management System and several indigenous combat systems. With its induction into the Eastern Fleet—popularly known as the Navy's "Sunrise Fleet"—INS Mahendragiri is expected to significantly enhance India's maritime combat capability, operational reach and strategic presence across the Indian Ocean Region, further advancing the country's vision of a future-ready Navy under the MAHASAGAR framework.
