Daijiworld Media Network- Visakhapatanm

Visakhapatnam, Aug 26: In a historic milestone for India’s maritime defence, the Indian Navy on Tuesday commissioned two advanced stealth frigates — INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri — at the Naval Base, Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking the first-ever induction of two frontline warships built at different shipyards on the same day.

Both vessels belong to the Project 17A class, a follow-on of the Shivalik class frigates, designed for multi-mission Blue Water operations. Equipped with modern propulsion, advanced stealth technology, and upgraded weapons and sensors, the frigates are expected to significantly enhance the Navy’s combat capabilities.

INS Udaygiri was constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, while INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The induction reflects the synergy between India’s leading defence shipyards and showcases the country’s growing strength in indigenous warship design and construction. Notably, Udaygiri is the 100th warship designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB), underlining decades of design expertise.

Reviving the legacy of their predecessors — INS Udaygiri (F35) and INS Himgiri (F34) — which served the nation for more than three decades, the new frigates carry forward a proud naval tradition.

The ships feature CODOG propulsion systems, Integrated Platform Management Systems, and state-of-the-art indigenous weapons and sensors. With nearly 75% indigenous content, including contributions from hundreds of domestic MSMEs, the frigates stand as a testament to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Udaygiri also holds the distinction of being the fastest ship in her class to be delivered post-launch, enabled by modular construction.

Once fully deployed with the Eastern Fleet, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri will bolster India’s maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region, undertaking critical missions ranging from surface and anti-submarine warfare to electronic warfare and surveillance.