The Indian Navy has received the delivery of the advanced stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, built under Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai. The handover on Thursday marks a significant milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance in warship construction.
Key Features of INS Mahendragiri
Designed by the Warship Design Bureau, INS Mahendragiri represents a quantum leap in naval design, stealth, firepower, automation, and survivability. It is equipped with an advanced weapon and sensor suite, including the MF-STAR active phased array radar, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, and Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles. The warship is designed for superior anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Indigenous Content and Employment Generation
With an indigenous content of 75%, the frigate utilizes advanced radar systems for surveillance and fire control. The Project 17A frigates are versatile multi-mission platforms configured with combined diesel or gas propulsion plants, featuring a diesel engine and a gas turbine driving controllable pitch propellers, along with a state-of-the-art integrated platform management system. The project involved over 200 MSMEs at MDL, generating employment for 4,000 personnel directly and more than 10,000 indirectly.
Project 17A Progress
A total of seven stealth guided-missile frigates are being constructed under Project 17A by MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). INS Mahendragiri is the sixth frigate delivered, arriving less than 17 months after the first warship. The five previously delivered vessels are INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri, and INS Vindhyagiri. The delivery of Mahendragiri showcases India's design, shipbuilding, and engineering prowess, reflecting the Navy's unwavering focus on Aatmanirbharta in both ship design and shipbuilding.
The stealth frigate project underscores India's commitment to addressing current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain with advanced, indigenous platforms.
