New Delhi: In a landmark moment for India’s maritime defence capability, the Indian Navy will commission two advanced frontline stealth frigates — Udaygiri (F35) and Himgiri (F34) — simultaneously at Visakhapatnam on August 26. This will mark the first time two major surface combatants from two different Indian shipyards are commissioned together, underscoring the nation’s accelerating naval modernisation and shipbuilding prowess.
Built under the Project 17A programme, Udaygiri has been constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, while Himgiri is the first of its class built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Notably, Udaygiri is also the 100th ship designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, highlighting indigenous design capability in complex warship construction.
Displacing about 6,700 tonnes, the P17A stealth frigates are around five percent larger than the earlier Shivalik-class frigates but incorporate a sleeker hull form with a significantly reduced radar cross-section. Equipped with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion, controllable-pitch propellers, and an Integrated Platform Management System, the frigates are designed for high manoeuvrability and operational efficiency.
Their weapon systems include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm medium-range gun, close-in weapon systems of 30 mm and 12.7 mm calibre, and advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The construction of Udaygiri and Himgiri involved an extensive industrial supply chain of over 200 MSMEs, generating about 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs. The commissioning will further cement the role of Indian industry in building advanced naval assets, in line with the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
The twin commissioning follows an impressive year for the Navy, which has already inducted several indigenous platforms in 2025, including destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri, submarine INS Vaghsheer, ASW Shallow Water Craft INS Arnala, and Diving Support Vessel INS Nistar. Both frigates have successfully completed rigorous sea trials, proving their readiness for operational deployment.
The upcoming ceremony will be more than a commissioning ritual — it will be a statement of India’s growing maritime self-reliance and technological maturity. With Udaygiri and Himgiri joining the fleet, India reinforces its resolve to safeguard its maritime interests with warships designed, built, and manned entirely in the country.
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