In a landmark ceremony attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Indian Navy commissioned two Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, on Tuesday. The warships, built under Project 17 Alpha (P-17A), mark a major milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding program with over 75 percent homegrown content.
This is the first instance where two major warships from separate premier shipyards were commissioned simultaneously Himgiri at Kolkata’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Udaygiri at Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. Together with INS Nilgiri, commissioned earlier this year, the Navy now fields a three-frigate squadron reflecting India’s rising industrial-technological capability and strengthening its maritime balance of power.
Both ships were designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, with Udaygiri being the 100th warship designed by the WDB. The frigates feature advanced stealth profiles, modular construction, and upgraded weapon and sensor systems. Post-commissioning, they will join the Eastern Fleet to enhance India’s operational reach across the Indian Ocean Region, countering maritime challenges including China’s expanding “string of pearls” presence.
Capabilities and Strategic Role
The P-17A frigates displace about 6,700 tons each and are larger than the earlier Shivalik class, while maintaining a reduced radar cross-section. Both Himgiri and Udaygiri measure 149 meters in length, achieve speeds of 28 knots, and can operate two helicopters.
INS Udaygiri, built in Mumbai, is armed with 48 Barak-8 missiles and eight BrahMos supersonic missiles, while INS Himgiri, built in Kolkata, carries 32 Barak-8 missiles, eight BrahMos supersonic missiles, and the Mareech torpedo decoy system. Additional armaments include surface-to-surface supersonic missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm MR Gun, close-in weapon systems, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Officials highlighted that the frigates will secure vital sea trade routes and bolster India’s presence from the Strait of Malacca to Africa, ensuring maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific. The commissioning not only enhances combat readiness but also demonstrates India’s commitment to aatmanirbharta in defence, signaling a generational leap in naval strength and indigenous warship design.
