Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commissioned two of the Indian Navy’s advanced frontline frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on August 26, 2025.
Speaking on the occasion the defence minister said that it showcases the success of the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives taken by the Government of India. It is the first time that two major surface combatants from two of the prestigious Shipyards of India are commissioned at the same time, emphasising India’s accelerating naval modernisation and its ability to deliver sophisticated warships from multiple shipyards.
INS Udaygiri, Himgiri: Old names, new power
The modern Udaygiri pays tribute to the erstwhile INS Udaygiri, which was in commission from 1976 to 2007, while Himgiri honours the erstwhile Himgiri that served from 1974 to 2005. The commissioning of the new ships thus links India’s rich maritime heritage with promising future aspirations.
INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are follow-on vessels of the Project 17 Shivalik-class frigates.
Project 17A: INS Himgiri & INS Udaygiri
- Project 17A: P17A ships feature enhanced stealth capabilities compared to their predecessors P17 (Shivalik) class, with improvements in hull design and weapon systems.
- The seven ships under Project 17A, are INS Nilgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Himgiri, INS Taragiri, INS Mahendragiri, INS Dunagiri, and INS Vindhyagiri.
- The Project 17A design incorporates ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors that include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems.
- These multi-mission frigates are designed to operate in a ‘Blue Water’ environment, meaning they can handle both conventional and non-conventional threats within India’s maritime interests.
- An Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) is also installed to optimize the ship’s functionality and crew coordination.
- The ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) main propulsion plants, comprising a Diesel Engine and Gas turbine, driving a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft.
INS Himgiri
- First P-17A stealth frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata.
- First Project 17A frigate built at GRSE.
- Stealth guided-missile frigate with advanced weaponry and sensors.
- Designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
- Features:
- Similar displacement and size to INS Udaygiri (~6,670 tonnes, 149 m).
- Equipped with LRSAM, BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 system, torpedoes, rocket launchers, 127 mm gun, AK-630 guns.
- Integrated stealth design with reduced radar cross-section.
- Propulsion: CODOG, endurance 5,500 NM at economical speed.
- Significance:
- Part of Western Naval Command.
- Motto: Adrushyam Ajayam – Invisible and invincible.
INS Udaygiri
Second P-17A stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL),Mumbai and also the 100th ship designed by Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
- Second ship of Project 17A Nilgiri-class frigates.
- A modern, stealth-capable multi-mission warship designed for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.
- Designed by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
Features:Displacement ~6,670 tonnes, length 149 m, speed 28 knots.
Weapons: Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (LRSAM), 8 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Barak-8, lightweight torpedoes, rocket launchers, 127 mm main gun, AK-630 rapid fire guns.
Equipped with modern radars, sonar (Humsa-NG), and Shakti Electronic Warfare suite.
Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG).
Significance:
Part of Eastern Naval Command (Sunrise Fleet).
Motto: Sanyuktaha Paramojayaha – In togetherness there is great victory.
Capabilities: Equipped with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 missiles, LRSAM, torpedoes, rocket launchers, advanced radars, and Shakti Electronic Warfare Suite.
- Legacy names: Both ships revive historic names of earlier INS Udaygiri (1976) and INS Himgiri (1974), which played key roles in Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, Operation Sahayata and others.
- Project 17 Bravo (P-17B): In 2024 the Defence Acquisition Council approved Project 17 Bravo stealth frigates, the next phase after the Project 17A.
Air Wing at sea
The ability to operate helicopters significantly extends their reach. Each ship can support aircraft such as the MH-60 Romeo, ALH Dhruv Mk-III or Sea King. These bring added capability in anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and rescue operations.
The balance four ships of the Class are at various stages of construction at MDL & GRSE and would be delivered to the Indian Navy by mid-2026.
