INS Mahendragiri to strengthen Navy’s firepower; here’s why it is special

The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri, the sixth Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigate, on July 11, marking another milestone in India's drive towards defence indigenisation and maritime capability enhancement.

Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai and designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB), the warship has over 75 per cent indigenous content, reflecting the government's ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

What does Mahendragiri symbolise?

The frigate is equipped with an advanced suite of indigenous and state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, comprehensive anti-submarine warfare systems and an integrated combat management system.

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Featuring advanced stealth technology, reduced radar signature, enhanced survivability and a high degree of automation, INS Mahendragiri is powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, enabling high-speed operations with extended endurance across a wide range of maritime missions.

According to the Navy, the frigate is designed to undertake maritime security, power projection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), search and rescue, and sustained presence missions. It said the warship would serve as a "formidable force multiplier" in safeguarding India's maritime interests and contributing to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate symbolises resilience, strength and determination.

INS Mahendragiri was delivered to the Navy on April 30 at MDL, Mumbai. Its construction involved a wide network of Indian industries, including numerous micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), generating employment while strengthening the country's defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Project 17A warships

The commissioning also marks another key milestone in the Project 17A programme, under which the Navy is acquiring seven advanced stealth guided-missile frigates. Compared with the earlier Shivalik-class (Project 17) ships, the Nilgiri-class features improved stealth characteristics, greater automation and more advanced weapon and sensor suites.

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The Navy has steadily inducted Project 17A frigates over the past two years. INS Nilgiri, the lead ship of the class, was commissioned in January 2025, followed by INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri in August 2025. INS Taragiri entered service in April this year, while INS Dunagiri, the fifth ship of the class, was commissioned in Kolkata on June 21 alongside Survey Vessel (Large) Sanshodhak and Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft Agray in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Project 17A frigates are equipped with a 32-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Barak-8/MRSAM air defence missiles and eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for anti-ship and land-attack missions, making them among the Indian Navy's most capable frontline warships.