Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Saturday that while future conflicts may incorporate artificial intelligence, victory will ultimately depend on national resolve, well-trained soldiers, and strong military capability. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of INS Mahendragiri in Visakhapatnam, he emphasized that new technologies and conventional platforms complement each other rather than oppose one another.
AI and Conventional Warfare
Singh asserted that new technologies have reshaped warfare but have not reduced the importance of conventional means. "Future wars may be fought with Artificial Intelligence, but they will still be won by national resolve, trained soldiers and the capable military power. So, I would say that new technologies and conventional platforms are not opposed to each other, but supplement each other, complete each other. Without conventional platforms, new technologies are incomplete in themselves," he said.
The minister highlighted that strong conventional capability remains essential for fulfilling basic principles of war, just as it was in the past.
INS Mahendragiri: A Stealth Frigate
Singh described INS Mahendragiri as part of the Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigate programme. It is the sixth Project 17A frigate and the last of four warships built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under the programme. Calling it the "concluding jewel" of MDL's Project 17A series, he expressed confidence that the shipyard would continue building advanced warships.
Recalling the induction of earlier Project 17A frigates, Singh noted that INS Nilgiri was commissioned in January 2025, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri in August 2025, INS Taragiri in April 2026, and INS Dunagiri in June 2026, before INS Mahendragiri joined the Navy on Saturday.
Capabilities of INS Mahendragiri
INS Mahendragiri has a full-load displacement of about 6,670 tonnes and can attain speeds of up to 28 knots. As a multi-mission stealth frigate, it is capable of simultaneously countering aerial threats, enemy surface vessels, and submarines.
Andhra Pradesh as Defence Hub
Singh also remarked that Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a new powerhouse of India's defence and aerospace manufacturing, underscoring the state's growing role in the sector.
