The Indian Navy will commission two advanced Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, on August 26 in Visakhapatnam, the Ministry of Defence announced. These warships, built under Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), follow the earlier commissioning of lead vessel INS Nilgiri and represent a major leap in India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding capability.

This is the first time two major surface combatants from two premier Indian shipyards are being commissioned simultaneously. With this addition, India strengthens its naval fleet and demonstrates its industrial and technological prowess, reinforcing regional power dynamics.

The P-17A frigates displace approximately 6,700 tons and are about 5% larger than the Shivalik-class ships, featuring a sleeker design and reduced radar cross-section. They are powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system using diesel engines and gas turbines, supported by an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). The weapon suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm MR Gun, close-in weapon systems, and advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Built through an ecosystem involving over 200 MSMEs, the project has generated around 4,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect jobs. INS Udaygiri has been constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai, marking the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau. INS Himgiri is the first P-17A ship built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

These stealth frigates will play a vital role in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, serving as a strong deterrent against growing Chinese maritime influence under its “string of pearls” policy. Officials stated that the frigates will secure critical sea trade routes and strengthen India’s presence from the Strait of Malacca to Africa.

The commissioning ceremony is seen as a significant step toward achieving self-reliance in defence and highlights the success of the Make in India initiative in the maritime domain.